Rwanda Nurses and Midwives Union (RNMU) on the 5th day of May 2023 joined midwives in Rwanda and other stakeholders to celebrate the International day of Midwife (IDM) with a call to action to boost professionalism.
Celebrated under the theme; “Together Again: From Evidence to Reality.” The celebrations were a chance to increase community awareness on the midwifery profession and scope of practice, find and create effective strategies to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity, and provision of quality evidence based care.
Furthermore, it was an opportunity for midwives to get out of the health setting for their visibility, show that they do more than “holding babies”, and celebrate with both the stakeholders and the community at large.
It is worth noting that in 2020, across the globe, approximately 800 women died every day (01 women every two minutes) from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Meanwhile, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 3.1 aims to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. This cannot be done without inter-professional and inter-sectoral collaboration.
Therefore, well-trained, competent, resourced, and supported midwives are key to addressing women’s, family and newborn health issues including but not limited to prevention, curative and palliative care. According to the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery report, midwives, when competent and supported by a functional healthsystem, can help avert over two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and disabilities. In addition, midwives can deliver 90 percent of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health rights and services.
Investing in universal coverage of the midwifery profession is a cost-effective way that will provide a positive impact, as they could avert 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of neonatal deaths, and 65% of stillbirths, considering that midwives are the backbone of maternal and newborn health. Thus their community and healthy system visibility and advocacy is needed.
This year’s International Day of the Midwife (IDM) focused on honoring midwives for their vital role and dedication to enhancing maternal health and women’s well-being as well as serve as a source of motivation for them to keep pushing forward.
The celebration consisted of two main events: a week-long community outreach activity in the districts of Karongi that aimed at offering family planning and maternal health services to the community and a two-day scientific conference.
Andre Gitembagara, the ICN Africa region representative and President of Rwanda Nurses and Midwives Union (RNMU) underlined the existing gaps in the number of midwives to patient ratio globally especially in Africa and Rwanda in particular.
“RNMU has been advocating through stakeholders to have the number of midwives increased, thanks to Ministry of Health we are seeing a positive change. The number of midwives has increased though we still have gaps. We are now calling for increased investment in midwifery as a profession” said Andre Gitembagara.
According to Mr. Gitembagara, if nothing done to bridge the gap in the number of midwives and nurses, it will not be easy to achieve the target by 2030. He called upon young boys and girls to be motivated to feel encouraged to join midwifery profession.
Sr. Josephine Murekezi, Chairperson of Rwanda Association of Midwives (RAM) called upon midwives professionals to serve diligently to reduce maternal and newborn mortality. She commended midwives to continue providing quality services and to remain accountable during their daily practices.
Sr. Murekezi outlined some of the success that the association has registered over the years in the field of midwifery education, capacity building, morale, knowledge sharing to mention but a few.
“Our efforts are being put in hands-on training for midwives, knowledge and skill enhancement. We are proud of sharing the knowledge, helping mothers and babies survive – no one should die while giving life” Murekezi said.
Dr Theophile DUSHIME, the chief technical advisor in the ministry of health noted that the ministry has a plans to increase the number of midwives. He added that the ministry is counting on the current midwifery professionals to be the role model for the young generation who want to join the profession.
