An educationist has called for more training of midwives reasoning thattheir services have now become critical.
Dr. David Thiele said maternal mortality in PNG is alarming. He was speaking atthe graduation of twenty midwives in Port Moresby yesterday.
The atmosphere atthe Pacific Adventist University outside of Port Moresby was fitting for a joint occasion. Asthe staff, parents and students’both old and new ushered inthe start ofthe academic year whilst withnessing a graduation.
The first twenty graduates of midwifery were among graduates from ther disciplines. Thiers wasthetheme “To Be His Extend Hands”. The graduates were urged to fulfill intheir various profession.
Statistic shows a total two hundred and twenty thousand births yearly; that is two hundred and six babies per day and twenty five per hour. Howeverthe challenge isthe number of midwives inthe country is just under three hundred.
AUSAID to assistthe National Government in sponsoring students’to take upthe course.
Professor Pat Beodie advisor and mentor in midwifery were at forefront in trainingthese graduates. Beodie says only forty per cent of mthers have access to skilled birth care and access to family planning is still poor.
He urgedthe graduates to improverthe type of care given to women and children. This will potentially help in reducingthe number of maternal deaths.
Mickey Kavera, National EMTV News
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