Midwives key to reducing maternal deaths

Dar es Salaan. As the world celebrates the International Day of the Midwife today, lack of skilled attendance at birth remains a major cause of maternal mortality because countries do not have adequate numbers of midwives to provide the needed care.

In Tanzania, estimates show that 17,000 babies die on their first day of life, according to Save the Children’s State of the World Mothers Report released in 2013.

The report further notes that 48,100 newborn deaths occur per year in the country, which represents a 2 per cent share of global newborn deaths.

As a result of the damning statistics, there have been increased calls for the government to support the work of midwives in their increasingly crucial duty to save the lives of mothers and their newborns.

“Childbirth is often complicated and a newborn child is frighteningly vulnerable. A trained midwife provides lifesaving support such as clearing a baby’s airway passage, hygienically cutting the umbilical cord or giving urgent care for those born prematurely,” Save the Children’s country director Steve Thorne, said in Dar es Salaam recently.

According to Amref Health Africa, it is estimated that Sub-Saharan Africa needs an additional 551,000 midwives by 2015 to bridge its deficit for midwifery.

The Foundation notes that at the current rate of increase in the number of midwives, it will take 29 years to reach the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended number as well as those of other health professionals of 2.28 per 1,000 population on the continent.

It is notable that midwives are at the heart of deliveries in Africa, including in Tanzania where poverty puts a huge amount of pressure on maternity services. More often than not, whether in larger hospitals or in dispensaries, midwives play a key role in ensuring safe delivery. It is imperative to have adequate numbers of midwives in all health facilities to improve skilled attendance at birth and reduce the high maternal and perinatal mortality in most African countries.

As 2015 draws near, countries in Africa have not been able to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Number Five. By just bridging the 510,000 deficit for midwives, however, maternal mortality would fall by more than one third in Africa, according to Amref Health Africa. The Foundation recommends that health systems employ and retain adequate numbers of midwives.

It has also prioritised training of midwives, with ongoing courses for certificate, diploma, bachelors and masters degrees offered in accordance with nursing and midwifery regulations.

in countries where the foundation operates.

Through its three-year campaign – Stand Up for African Mothers, Amref Health Africa aims to train 15,000 midwives between 2013 and 2015, according to a statement released by the organisation. To date 5,452 midwives have been trained through the campaign.