Bartica observes International Midwife Day 2019

May 05, 2019 News

Officially, International Midwife Day is observed annually on May 5. However on Friday the Association of Guyana in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Region Seven Administration hosted a commemoration Ceremony in observance of the occasion at the Bartica Municipal Centre building.
With representation from most of the Regions and officials from the Ministry of Public Health assembled in the Municipality of Bartica for the occasion. This Year the Theme is “: Defenders of Women’s Rights”
A march around Bartica preceded the official ceremony that was chaired by Nurse Angela Van Lange.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Ms Collette Adams, in her address, highlighted the fact that save lives, offer counseling, assist in Family planning and defend Women, by assisting them through difficult situations throughout the Sexual Reproduction Cycle.
The latter is when they are vulnerable. The role of a Midwife, she further stated, goes a long way beyond the Midwife Services where a midwife aids in Family planning and Teenage advocacy by putting Teenagers back on stream with their education programme.
In general they try their best at all times, because nobody wants to see a child die, Nurse Van Lange said.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, in his address, stated that national statistics for last year proved they had delivered 95% of the recorded Births—a total of 14,894. He also stated that this fact is not highlighted in the Media, which so far, only highlights on the one or two incidents, to throw all off track on the successes and positivity that abounds through Guyana’s Midwifery Services.
He said that recognition is not proactively being given to midwives on how many unfortunate situations they avert. He however urged all midwives to continue carefully coaching Parents. He also called for all to be involved.
Region Seven Chairman, Mr Gordon Bradford, acknowledged that Midwives are all a special breed of people. They are the first persons encountered by babies in every aspect of the delivery process. He then made a call for more nurses to take to this profession and to those already in the profession to give themselves credit.
Medical Superintendent of the Bartica Regional Public Hospital, Dr. Gillian Jardine, in her address declared that midwifery is a calling beyond duty, where in most cases a midwife will have to role play in being a mother, a husband, a family member, a task that is not easy to preserve under adverse conditions at times.
She then implored for all to continue doing their best in the face of challenges knowing that all indeed respect what they are doing.
Ms Maria Francois, President of the Midwives Association that was established since 2010, then paid recognition and honour to all midwives who are always at the forefront of the Sexual Reproduction Cycle.
She said that they are also integral for more Women to live productive lives.
She then applauded all Stakeholders both Regional and National, notably Region Seven, for what the defence of Women Rights has achieved for the Region. Region Seven has the lowest Infant mortality rate, and urged all to continue advocating and defending Women’s Rights.
Ms Mandy La Fleur on behalf of the Minister of Public Health stated, that special interest is being paid in this Year’s Theme by the Ministry.
During these presentations, advocacy was made for a salary increase. The presentation of Awards and Tokens of appreciation to Midwives then completed this Ceremony. ( Edward A Persaud)

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