Midwives are heartbeat of maternal and newborn health, says Bangladesh minister

The state minister for health has termed midwives the “heartbeat” of maternal and newborn health and said the government is focused on improving the service in Bangladesh.

“We are looking into how midwifery in Bangladesh can be improved to make sure mothers and babies receive the professional care they require,” Zahid Maleque said, inaugurating a workshop in Dhaka on Monday.

Participants at the three-day workshop said midwives can “significantly” contribute towards reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in Bangladesh, as is envisioned in the SDGs.

The Directorate of Nursing Services and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) brought together the key players in the field of maternal and newborn health to discuss the Midwifery Services Framework (MSF) in the workshop.

The state minister in his address reaffirmed the government’s political commitment to provide the health services needed.  He also emphasised the need for more midwives to cater to all deliveries.

The UNFPA Representative, Argentina Matavel Piccin, said 5200 women dying every year in Bangladesh due to pregnancy and child birth are “not just numbers, they are our mothers, sisters and daughters”.

“We have to get it right and strengthen midwifery in Bangladesh,” she said.

A high-level mission from the International Confederation of Midwives is in Dhaka now to support midwives in Bangladesh.

The workshop will analyse what investments and improvements are needed to strengthen the quality of midwifery care and keep Bangladeshi women and newborns safe and healthy, the UNFPA said in a statement.