By Jeff Trotman
Midwives at Linden Hospital Complex achiev-ed a target of zero maternal deaths in 2013 and their work “has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated”.
Chairman of the Linden Hospital Complex, Mortimer Mingo, made the comment while delivering the feature address at an International Midwives Day rally at Watooka House, Linden on Friday 2 May.
The event, hosted by the Linden Branch of the Guyana Midwives Association in collaboration with the national body, attracted midwives from all ten regions of the country and Mingo seized the opportunity to state that it is with pride that he was extending the commendation of the Board of Directors and staff of the Linden Hospital Complex to the institution’s midwives, “who have achieved a level of zero maternal deaths in 2013”.
He said that such a commendable result is reflective of the professionalism of the staff of midwives as he noted that the transfer rate of neonatals has been drastically reduced. The LHC Chairman stressed that such achievement is not only a reflection of the skill of the doctors but also the effectiveness of the institution’s nurses in providing primary care, proper advice and other services to expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy. “With the establishment of the neonatal resources care unit our institution has been providing invaluable service to care for our babies, who require special care under the expert supervision of our midwives,” Mingo said. “While … there are many branches of nursing care, midwives, in my humble opinion, are unique in that they prepare for and receive life,” the LHC Chairman said, adding that “in the majority of instances our midwives are the individuals, who greet us upon entry into this world.” He also said theirs are “the first hands that cradle us even before we know our mother’s touch”.
He exhorted the gathering of midwives to celebrate the day from the perspective of the public whom they serve. According to him, the greatest need of patients is for midwives to have respect for patients and their families. Mingo also called on midwives to exercise confidentiality in the discharge of their professional duty. He said such qualities which are intangible sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of the health professionals’ attempt to be as efficient in a professional way to those whom they serve.
He also exhorted the midwives to never lose sight of the human face of the people whom they serve “and to remember … a smile can do much to provide comfort to a mother or father worrying over the health of their expected child than any medication could”.
The former Regional Chairman of Region Ten also commended the community of midwives for the continued bonding of its members over the past 24 years and he urged the national midwives association to “collectively … subscribe to the motivation of continuous education among your membership … and a drive to be more proficient in the execution of your duty”.
He said while the event celebrated another anniversary of midwifery as a profession, he wished to advise them that “whilst individually, excellent work is definitely required and (is) commendable, it is by the pooling of our collective knowledge and effort that societies grow and transform for the better”.
Quoting the theme of this year’s commemorative exercise: ‘The world needs midwives more than ever before’, the LHC Chairman further encouraged the midwives to continue working to sustain their association and to make it more strong and vibrant.
