Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 04, 2011 News
Despite the challenges midwives and other human resources in Guyana’s health sector face, the country has made considerable progress in reducing the number of maternal and neonatal deaths. Guyana has also succeeded in increasing the number of skilled midwives and work attendants.
“Even as we highlight and show concerns at complications that might and may occur we are identifying the causes and taking action. Let us remember that the complications do not occur because of the quality healthcare being provided by health workers including midwives.”
This notion was expressed by Dr. Beverly Barnett, Country Representative, of Pan-American Health Organization at the Midwives Association of Guyana’s Annual Conference and the official handing over of the 2009 Midwifery Research Studies. The forum was held at Regency Suites, Hadfield Street.
Dr. Barnett emphasised that the conference’s theme “Strengthening Midwifery in Guyana: Embracing New Knowledge, Beat Practices and Promoting Innovation,” addresses strengthening the capacities of its members to contribute to individual and population health.
She related that the State of the World Midwifery 2011 Report, which was published earlier this year and launched in Guyana, acknowledges that increasing women’s access to quality midwifery services has become the focus of global efforts in realizing the rights to the best possible health care during pregnancy and childhood.
Dr. Barnett said Guyana’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Progress Report 2011 was launched this year and states that the country is making very good progress towards MDG 4 and has the potential to meet the maternal mortality reduction target, MDG 5.
She asserted that an important part of realizing that potential is ensuring universal access to quality health services, including skilled birth attendants such as midwives and functioning health facilities.
“This is very much the goal of the various initiatives in Guyana, including the safe motherhood initiative, strengthening primary health care, and strengthening the integrated delivery of health services,” Dr. Barnett emphasised.
She added that PAHO/WHO and other partners in health in Guyana, such as UNFPA and UNICEF, have undertaken technical provision with the Ministry of Health and other national counterparts over the years to improve healthcare.
Dr. Barnett also stated that Guyana now has a National Strategic Plan for the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality 2011-2020. The involvement of midwives will be critical to the successful implementation of the strategy.
It was noted that midwifery care is unique as it contributes to the physical wellbeing and self-esteem of new parents through positive experiences, breast feeding support, nutritional education and family planning.
According to Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer, on average there are 15,000 births per year that result in the health sector managing about 16,000 pregnancies, some of them “spill overs” to the next year.
He explained of that number, about three quarters of those deliveries take place at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and most of the midwives are also located there. In addition, about 20 percent of births occur at private hospitals around the City. The births occur at Regional Hospitals, District Hospitals, health centres, and health posts attended solely by a midwife.
He related that in Guyana, one third of the maternal deaths which occurred this year were related to abortion issues. Examination of those cases revealed that many of the patients lacked basic information and knowledge.
Dr. Persaud opined that had they had better midwifery advice, the outcomes would have been different.
“We need to engage young people, the issue of reproductive health does not only centre around contraceptives some persons need to know the facts of life and what the whole process of reproductive health is all about and if they want to embark on that phase of their life, what to expect.”
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