MD/CEO, GH, Ijede, Dr. Abimbola Sunday Okudero, with the Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Nurse Mojisola Adenigba, Apex Nurse Diei Olubunmi and other nursing staffThe General Hospital, Ijede, has marked the Year 2022 International Day of the Midwife with a zoom meeting of midwives at the Health Service Commission (HSC) and a special prayer by all nurses for improved services delivery at the facility.
Speaking on the importance of the Day, the Apex Nurse at the General Hospital, Nurse Diei Olubunmi, stated that midwives play vital roles in the life of pregnant women, families and society at large, noting that the profession is populated with responsible and accountable individuals who work in partnership with women to give all necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour as well as postpartum period.
Other roles performed by midwives, according to her, include educating new mothers on breastfeeding, bathing, dressing babies, instructing and educating mothers on related baby healthcare issues and administering medications as prescribed by the consulting physician, among others. Speaking further, she described a midwife as a person who has completed a midwifery education programme based on the Essential Competencies for midwifery practice, noting that it must be in line with the framework of the Global Standards for Midwifery Education.
While informing that a midwife has an important task of counselling and educating women, the family and the community, Nurse Diei maintained that Midwives are also trained to provide routine gynaecological care during childbirth and pregnancy by making the process as healthy and smooth as possible. She explained that certified midwives work in hospitals, health clinics, obstetrics and gynaecology practices, birth centres and private homes, noting that if there are more certified midwives in rural areas with the support and recognition from the authority, there will be a drastic reduction in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the State.