Shocking rates drive man to study midwifery

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday March 3rd, 2014

By MIRIAM MALAWA

Papua New Guinea’s high maternal mortality rate of 733 per 1,000 births has pushed a man to become a midwife.

Albert Kuma, from Jiwaka, graduated with a Bachelor of Midwifery on Friday from the Pacific Adventist University. 

He was one of four men who graduated along with 19 women. 

He was the top of his class.   

Kuma said the high mortality rate had driven him to pursue further studies in a field which was more specific in caring for women.

 “I saw the need when working in a labour ward for four years. I furthered my studies so that I’ll learn skills to care for mothers who come in with complications.

Kuma said PNG had such high maternal mortality rate that it needed not only females but males to bring about changes. 

“If we want our country to improve on the maternal mortality rate, we have to do away with some of our customs, and culture that is not helping us,” he said.

Kuman said the study had made it possible for him to serve mothers in rural areas. 

He would go back to Jiwaka and work in the remote parts of the province. 

He stressed that the national government must also provide proper service to those located in rural areas.

Australian High Commission’s programme director for Health and HIV Geoff Clark said: “PNG has the worst maternal mortality rate in the Asia Pacific region and the only two things that can improve outcomes for women are family planning and skilled birth attendance. 

“So obliviously one of the key ways to trying to address maternal mortality is to train midwifes to be able to look after women,” he said.