DURBAN MEETWe're here, proclaim midwives

Nurul Islam Hasib
bdnews24.com senior correspondent from Durban

Durban, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Traditional dance, beating of drums and school children's parading, with flags of over 85 countries swaying in the breeze, gave a perfect start to the 29th triennial congress of midwives in the busiest port city of South Africa on Sunday evening.

The International Convention Centre (ICC), Durban wore a festive look where hundreds of midwives gathered, representing their countries at the grand opening of the event.

International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) president Bridget Lynch formally opened the five-day congress by thanking all who "extended support to make the event happen".

"It (the congress) proves midwives can do what they want when united," she said, adding, "We (midwives) are moving forward."

"We could develop a global standard of education and regulation for midwives. It's the only profession in the healthcare profession that could do that," she said amid thunderous applause and cheers.

"We must know a midwife is a midwife wherever she goes," she underlined.

Referring to Saturday's five-kilometer walk, Lynch said, "It's clear to the world that midwifes will no longer be invisible?"

Midwives from across the globe walked five kilometres along the Durban waterfront on Saturday, a day prior to the opening of the congress, to send the message across that "the world needs more midwives now than ever to save mothers".

The theme of the congress is midwives tackling the "Big 5" globally that include globalisation, listening to women and their partners, continuum of care, strengthening midwives and midwifery, and taking consideration of culture, tradition and society.

South Africa's deputy health minister Gwendoline Ramokgopa welcomed global midwives in South Africa and thanked them for their contribution in cutting maternal deaths and improving lives of women.

Apart from ensuring a skilled attendant during delivery, midwives also ensure family planning, pregnancy check-ups and post-delivery care, and prevent transmission of diseases from mother to child.

"The historic event brings hope and encouragement to the women, and children," Kiran Bajracharya, president of Midwifery Society of Nepal, told bdnews24.com.

"The congress gives a platform for sharing a best practice model towards improving the midwifery," she said.

Midwives are the hope for many villagers in Nepal, who do not see doctors, according to her.

An Afgan midwife Madina Rashidi and a Nigerian midwife Catherine Oluwatoyin Ojo were honored on the occasion with Save the Children Everyone Midwife award for their outstanding contribution in developing midwifery in their respective countries.

Dr Christina Mudokwenyu-Rawdon with 38 years of experience in midwifery was awarded Marie Goubran Award for her leadership in developing midwifery education and research.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that supports midwifery development observes that competent midwives are cost-effective solution to cut maternal deaths.

"But the point is midwives have to be supervised. Supervision is extremely important," a UNFPA coordinator for midwifery programme told bdnews24.com earlier.

The UNFPA-coordinated State of the World Midwifery 2011 report will be released in the congress on Monday.

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