UNFPA-trained young midwives take lead to advance the profession

Young midwives in different parts of the world have taken the lead to advance the profession in their countries with education, regulations and the association, the ICM Congress in Toronto has been told.

The UNFPA that supports the midwifery profession last year trained up across the world a group of young midwives selected through a rigorous process, and later they were sent back to their home countries for work.

On Wednesday, some of those ‘Young Midwife Leaders’ shared their experiences of how they were promoting access to quality midwifery services in their countries on the sidelines of the ongoing the 31st International Confederation of Midwives’ or ICM Triennial Congress in Toronto.

They also shared how they were acting as “role models” for their peers by engaging in policy dialogue to bring about a conducive environment for midwifery profession in their country.

Clara Methie from Zimbabwe said, "Young midwives had no idea what the association is all about."

“I conducted the workshop, and then they opened up and realised that what are missing when they are not part of the midwifery association.”

María Florencia Francisconi from Argentina said through the UNFPA-sponsored programme, she could well understand that they were not the leaders of tomorrow. “We are in fact the leaders of today as we have to act now.”

Jigme Choden from Bhutan said she is working at a government hospital where about 4,000 deliveries take place a year. And after the UNFPA young leadership training, she was posted as a quality manager.

“Quality is a big issue, and as a quality manager I had an extra passion and extra interest to ensure that mothers and children get quality services.”

She said she took back new ideas that she replicated in her work.

Yvonne Delphine from Rwanda said after getting the training, she could approach the whole issue of midwifery and sexual and reproductive health and rights to the authorities.

“It was something which was not easy earlier,” she said.

Over 4,000 midwives, medical practitioners, obstetricians, gynaecologists, health care professionals, governments, policy makers along with UN agencies, international non-government organisations and donors from across the world have convened this ICM congress which will end on Thursday.

This is the biggest event on the midwifery calendar ending on Thursday.