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Sudan

Sudan: Initiative aims to train more midwives

In an effort to combat high maternal mortality and fistula rates, Southern Sudan launched an initiative from 13 to 15 May to address problems related to unskilled birth attendance.

The initiative -- "Investing in midwives and others with midwifery skills to accelerate progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5 " -- was held at Nyokuron Cultural Centre in Juba under the theme "the world need more midwives now than ever".

The initiative aimed to upgrade midwifery training with curricula based on the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), increase the number of midwifery associations capable of helping to improve services, and increase support at global and regional levels for midwifery as a key health workforce.

Hundreds of nurses, doctors, midwives and senior government officials, including Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Vice-President Riek Machar, marched from the GoSS Ministry of Health building to the cultural centre behind motorcyclists and a police band to open the event.

Dr. Jemima Dennis Antwi, ICM Regional Midwifery Advisor for Africa, stressed that midwifery was a critical skill in Southern Sudan if maternal mortality was to be reduced. "We should set up the necessary structures on the ground ... midwives should be promoted to be key partners in the healthcare system."

Vice-President Machar noted that Southern Sudan had major difficulties transforming its society from a rural to urban one. "Many mothers still do not believe in the services of a midwife. Instead they prefer a traditional birth attendant."

Another challenge was finding enough people to accept training as midwives, Mr. Machar said. "Let us mobilize both men and women to join the profession so that we reach the required target of midwives to save our mothers."

Appealing to the government to train more midwives, Women's Union social worker Mary Saidia said pregnant women felt they had "one leg in the grave" due to delivery risks or injuries leading to fistula. "We have many young girls who are going to school. Let them be trained to help their mothers and sisters."