'Institutions churning out half-baked midwives'

Government could be churning out half-backed midwives following the expansion of their training curriculum to incorporate new trends, but has failed to extend the training period in line with international guidelines, the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives president Dr Lillian Dodzo has said.

Speaking at the International Day of Midwives commemorations held at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo yesterday, Dr Dodzo said the curriculum now requires students to be well-versed in new drugs on the market such as antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), infections, prevention and control new guidelines, treatment, prevention and management of HIV, among others.

She said these additional requirements plus the previous curriculum require more time of up to 18 months on both theory and practice compared to the current 12 months spent in training to ensure that those trained are fully conversant with what they are expected to do upon graduation.

"What is happening now is that tutors are just rushing the training to complete the curriculum in 12 months, risking the quality of the midwife. We therefore recommend extension of the training period to 18 months so that our midwives are at tandem with other midwives from elsewhere," she said.

Dr Dodzo also lamented the lack of establishment for midwives in the public health sector, which she said could be another contributory factor to the country's high maternal mortality ratio. Latest statistics show that at least six mothers die during child birth in Zimbabwe.

Dr Dodzo said there was also need to ensure that midwives are well remunerated to retain them in the country.

According to the National Health Strategy (2009-2015), the country has an 80 percent vacancy for midwives and a 62 percent vacancy for nursing tutors.

Responding to the midwives' grievances, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko who was guest of honour at the event said there was need to invest in midwifery education, remuneration and their retention for the country to reduce the high numbers of maternal mortality.

VP Mphoko said it was high time Government comes up with a retention strategy for midwives to ensure that the country does not continue to train for other countries, when there is a shortage.

"To ensure that there are enough qualified midwives to care for women and newborns, our country continues to increase investments in the education of midwives and growing the midwifery workforce. It is high time, the Government strives to put a retention strategy in place in order to retain the midwives who are crucial to the health of women and newborns," said VP Mphoko.

Heath and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa who was also at the same function said although Government was confident on the quality of its midwives and welcomed the incorporation of new trends into their curriculum.

"I am convinced that I have competent midwives who can go anywhere in the world. If there are new skills, they should be incorporated into the curriculum," he said.

UNFPA country representative Mr Cheikh Cisse Tidiane said investing in midwives averts deaths.

Mr Tidiane said two in every three maternal deaths can be avoidable if mothers deliver under supervision of a skilled midwife.

The International Day of Midwives is commemorated on May 4.