PESHAWAR: Experts have called for imparting modern training and techniques to midwives to ensure provision of better healthcare services to women before and after pregnancies and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the country.

“We can drastically reduce the deaths of mothers and their newborn babies through deployment of highly-trained midwives and ensure painless deliveries at hospitals,” Prof Shamshad Begum, head of obstetrics and gynaecology department at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), told a seminar here on Sunday.

The seminar was organised by the local chapter of Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan in connection with World Midwifery Day.

Prof Shamshad said that midwives needed to be trained on modern lines so that health indicators regarding women and child health could be improved. She said that midwives were trained healthcare professional specialising in childbirth and reproductive health and it was important for would-be mothers to avail their services before, during and after pregnancy to stay safe from complications.

She said that one of the fundamental roles of midwives was to provide prenatal care, such as regular checkups and monitoring throughout pregnancy to ensure the health and well-being of the birthing parent and the developing baby. “Such checkups include physical examinations, ultrasound scans and blood tests to track the progress of pregnancy,” she added.

Prof Saadia Shamsher dwelt at length upon the history and origin of midwifery practices, current situation in Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said that people required adequate number of midwives.

She also introduced the proposed plans of continued professional development (CPD) for midwifery tutors and their career development. “Midwives are care providers and defenders of women’s sexual and reproductive health,” she said.

On the occasion, a skit was played by nursing students to highlight the existing hurdles in their working environment. Poems were recited and dedicated to the services of midwives and nurses, giving gratitude to their work and contributions.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024