In early July, UNFPA and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) held a three-day workshop that aims to strengthen the profession in Sierra Leone.
As a midwife and mother myself, I know how important it is to have someone trained and skilled attend birth. Women in Sierra Leone so often don’t have access to midwives, especially in the northern region, so I was delighted to learn of plans to improve midwifery in the country.In early July, UNFPA and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) held a three-day workshop that aims to strengthen the profession in Sierra Leone. The room was filled with an amazing range of people from all over the country, all committed to giving midwives the skills, support and inspiration to help Sierra Leone’s mothers. We were joined by the Chief Nursing Officer, midwifery educators district health sisters, midwives from professional associations and maternity units. The World Health Organization sent participants as did Voluntary Service Overseas and the Medical Research Centre.The Investing in Midwives Programme - a partnership between the UNFPA, the ICM and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation – has ambitious aims, to strengthen:
- the capacity of midwives associations
- pre-service midwifery education and accreditation
- midwifery service provision
- regulation.
- The Honourable Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Fofanah and Mrs Amelia Gabba, the President of the West African College of Nursing, who spoke with such passion.
- Dr Jemima Dennis-Antwi, ICM Regional Midwife Advisor; Mrs Mariama Diarra from the UNFPA Mrs Margaret Mannah-Macarthy, Country Midwife Advisor, UNFPA; and the President for the National School of Midwifery, Dr Joan Hannah-Shepherd, whose presentations were informative and compelling.
- And, not least, Mrs Saffiatu Sandi who co-ordinated the proceedings and made sure that everyone stayed focused on the tasks.