Take note of WHO recommendations

WHAT coincidence that the World Health Day (April 7) 2020 fell at a time of a global pandemic – the coronavirus (Covid-19).
April 7, 2020 which was Tuesday is the day to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives and remind world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy.
And today, nurses and other health workers are at the forefront of Covid-19 response – providing high quality, respectful treatment and care, leading community dialogue to address fears and questions and, in some instances, collecting data for clinical studies.
Quite simply, without nurses, there would be no response.
In this International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, World Health Day will highlight the current status of nursing around the world.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners will make a series of recommendations to strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce.
We should demand that PNG authorities take note of the recommendations.
This will be vital if we are to achieve national and global targets related to universal health coverage, maternal and child health, infectious and non-communicable diseases including mental health, emergency preparedness and response, patient safety and the delivery of integrated, people-centered care, among others.
Records from WHO in 2016 show PNG’s population at about 8 million and the number of doctors is just below 600. That is about 1:12,000 people. Then we have the nurses ratio is 5:10,000 people.
Last March, disturbing figures released showed PNG had the lowest number of skilled birth attendants and needs 6,000 more to meet global standard.
And a ‘2019 Maternal and Newborn Health Task Force report’ said high maternal and newborn mortality in the country is partly because of lack of midwives or skilled birth attendants in health facilities.
The report adds there were so many factors that contributed to 2,000 women dying yearly during pregnancy or after giving birth which is one of the highest rates in the world.
PNG has insufficient midwives or other skilled health workers to assist an estimated 1.8 million reproductive aged women, who give birth to approximately 220,000 babies every year.
Health reports say midwifery training schools has increased to five and 394 new midwives were educated between 2012 -2015 and more needs to be done including up skilling of community health workers and nurses around the country.
Midwifery was included in the health workers’ training curriculum however institutions lack the capacity to train a lot due to insufficient support from the government.
Our partners are ready to assist training and up skilling whatever resources we have but they need100 per cent Government commitment.
This pandemic we hope will now tie down the Government to improving the health system including support for midwifery education to improve maternal and neonatal health in PNG.
Our leaders in PNG should be reminded of the critical role our health workers play in keeping the world healthy.
The Government and relevant authorities should ensure that the nursing and midwifery workforces are strong enough to ensure that everyone, everywhere gets the healthcare they need.
Nurses and other health workers are at the forefront of Covid-19 response – providing high quality, respectful treatment and care, leading community dialogue to address fears and questions and, in some instances, collecting data for clinical studies.
Quite simply, without nurses, there would be no response to covid-19.