Midwives from Afghanistan and Nigeria receive award from Save the Children and the International Confederation of Midwives.
Two extraordinary women are being recognised for their commitment to saving the lives of women and newborn babies today (19 June, 2011, Durban, South Africa) as they are presented with a Midwife Award for exceptional contribution. This award from Save the Children and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) recognizes midwives working on the frontlines for newborn survivial in resource-challenged countries. The majority of the world’s 358,000 maternal and 3.3 million newborn deaths occur in low income countries and midwives are crucial to reducing these deaths.
One winner is Madina Rashidi, from rural Jawzjan province, Afghanistan. Madina was the only woman in Shebirghan City to complete high school and was selected by her community to attend midwifery school. She completed her studies in 2009 and now provides 24-hour care as the only midwife in the only health center in her village, in a rural insecure, area. Madina’s has been a catalyst in changing centuries of tradition. Most women gave birth at home either with a Traditional Birth Attendant, a relative, or completely alone. By persuading the community’s men to allow their wives to come to the clinic and encouraging women themselves, Madina has been responsible for an increase in antenatal and postnatal care, more births in the health centre and saving many lives.
The Nigerian winner is Catherine Ojo, from Zaria in the North of the country. Catherine works as chief nursing officer at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Northern Nigeria and started a Special Care Baby Unit at the hospital after caring for a preterm baby, which nearly died many times. She is a leader, training other midwives on newborn care, how to resuscitate newborn babies, simple care of preterm babies (Kangaroo Mother Care), community based newborn care, and prevention of mother-to child transmission of HIV. She also acts as counsellor to younger midwives helping them through difficulties with their jobs. As part of her ongoing commitment to saving the lives of Nigeria’s babies, Catherine has been involved in several research studies to improve newborn care.
Dr. Joy Lawn of Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives program said: “Birth is the time of highest risk for new mothers and for babies. These awards highlight the vital role that midwives play in saving lives. However, currently there is a global shortage of 350,000 midwives, especially affecting Africa. We need many more midwives and especially more with the commitment of Madina and Catherine, to make sure that no woman, anywhere in the world has to give birth alone.”
If midwives were at all births and had the right training and health system support, then Save the Children estimates that 1.3 million newborn babies’ lives could be saved. These needless deaths of newborn babies could be avoided and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals for maternal and for child survival accelerated.
This is the third time since 2002 that Save the Children has made this global award with previous winners being midwives from South Africa, Malawi and Ethiopia. This year, the awards will be given on behalf of Save the Children’s EVERY ONE global campaign and its Saving Newborn Lives program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The winners have been sponsored to attend the 29th Triennial Congress in Durban, South Africa and will receive a trophy and certificate of recognition.
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