Elizabeth Mpunga, a midwife who has undergone specialist training talks
to a new mother with her baby after the latter gave birth at a local
health centre. PHOTO|FILE
By Charles Chacha, The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
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.
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
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