The World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa regional office, has so far trained over 3,000 nurses and midwives on Covid-19 infection prevention and control, to limit the transmission of the virus in health facilities.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, disclosed this in a message in Abuja on Tuesday in commemoration of the year 2020 international day of Midwife which is with theme: ‘Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilize, unite’.
“So far, over 3000 front-line health workers, including midwives, have participated in webinars. These activities complement trainings led by chief nurses and midwifery officers in countries.
“Countries are also making sure essential health services, like safe deliveries, are not disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In Malawi, for instance, risk allowances for health workers, including midwives, have been increased, and 2,000 more health workers have been recruited including 700 nurse and midwives.
“Moving forward, we must ensure that the voices, perspectives and leadership of midwives, nurses and women are included and respected,” she stressed.
Moeti, therefore, called on countries to do more to appreciate what she described “the valuable contribution of midwives in health-care teams.”
The WHO regional boss also called on governments, academic institutions and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to invest more in the development of midwives.
This, according to her, is imperative to improve health outcomes for women and infants.
“I therefore, call on governments, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and partners to invest in midwifery development from education to practice with appropriate regulatory frameworks, support materials and human resources.
“This is imperative to improve health outcomes for women and infants,” she stated.
She noted that maternal and newborn deaths have reduced drastically in the African region by 40 per cent between 2000 and 2017, due to the commitments of midwives working with other health professionals.
Moeti, therefore, applauded midwives across the Africa region for their professionalism and commitment to ensuring the safety of mothers and their newborn babies, even on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
