The Sunday News
Mashudu Mambo and Limpret Moyo, Sunday News Reporters
THE Government has called on stakeholders in the health sector to complement efforts by the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives (ZICOM) by providing them with the requisite financial support to ensure continued contributions are made towards the achievement of low mortality in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This comes amid revelations that competent midwifery helps reduce and prevent deaths of more than 287 000 women who die while giving birth.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Enterprise Development, Dr Mike Bimha at the ZICOM 22nd Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting at a Bulawayo hotel recently, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa said there was a need for stakeholders to complement efforts made by midwives as they play a big role in ensuring the reduction of mortality rates.
“I am aware that midwives in Zimbabwe are engaged in a number of research activities and this is a good practice which will promote evidence-based midwifery care. However, there is a need to complement the efforts of the midwives by ensuring a holistic approach to economic and financial support so that they will be able to make great contributions towards the achievements of SDGs.
“The Government of Zimbabwe recognises midwives as a critical link to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and universal health coverage. Over and above in the delivering of babies, midwives also provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and play a critical role in promoting health issues in the community.
“I am reliably informed that access to competent midwife can help reduce and prevent deaths of more than 287 000 women who die while giving birth and 2,7 million new born babies who die within the first 28 days because they have no mothers,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the Government recognises the need for more midwifery staff to contribute to healthier families and communities.
“The Government acknowledges the need for an adequate midwifery workforce and agrees that investing in women and newborns means saving millions of lives each year, contributing to healthier families and communities and it can yield 16 times return on investment.
“My health administration is committed to ensuring that midwives have appropriate employment protection, remuneration, incentives and motivation and sustainable legislation in the field of midwifery,” he said.
President Mnangagwa commended ZICOM for advocating for the development of the midwives courses and reviewing the midwifery practices.
“The achievements include advocating for the extension of the midwifery education period from 12 to 24 months to allow for one-year internships which will definitely improve the skills of the midwives and review the midwifery practice regulations, the development of the code of ethics for midwives to incorporate the new trends in midwifery practice, the introduction of competence-based education and the orientation of midwifery educators on Competency Based Education (CBE).
The event was held under the theme “articulating the midwifery agenda for the sustainable developmental goals for improved quality care for the women, newborns and their families.”
