Kolkata,: Every year, the world celebrates International Day of the Midwife on May 5, with the theme of this year's campaign being "Midwives leading the way with quality care".The theme is in line with the first of 3 strategic directions of the International Confederation of Midwifes namely, quality, equity, and
leadership.
Midwifery is "skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate care for childbearing women, newborn infants and families across the continuum throughout pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the early weeks of life.
A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme, duly recognized in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practice midwifery.
A skilled birth attendant is an accredited health professional ? such as a midwife, doctor or nurse ? who has been educated and trained to proficiency in the skills needed to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complications in women and newborns.
All women and newborns have a right to a quality of care that enables a positive childbirth experience that includes respect and dignity, a companion of choice, clear communication by maternity staff, pain relief strategies, mobility in labour and birth position of choice.Evidence shows us that: Midwives educated and qualified to international standards can provide 87 per cent of services needed by mothers and newborns.
Women in receipt of WHO recommended midwife-led continuity of care experience a 24 per cent reduction of preterm births, are 16 per cent less likely to lose their baby, and report higher satisfaction with their birth experience.
However, for many midwives it is not possible to provide quality of care because of lack of basic water and sanitation services. 38 per cent of facilities lack access to even rudimentary levels of water, 19 per cent lack sanitation and 35 per cent do not have water and soap for handwashing. (UNI)