Lao Community Midwives: everyday heroes

As part of the strategy to prevent and reduce maternal mortality in Lao PDR, the Ministry of Health (MoH) with support from the United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA) and other development partners, is implementing the National Skilled Birth Attendance plan that supports the delivery of the national Integrated Package of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Services, including the professional training of Community Midwives in 8 health schools all over the country.

On occasion of the International Day of the Midwife (5th May), the MoH and UNFPA organized a ceremony to acknowledge the important role that community midwives play in saving mothers and babies lives in Lao PDR. The event included an award ceremony of the national essay contest on community midwifery in which midwives from all over the country participated to share their experiences on this profession. The winners of the essay competition will have the opportunity to attend the Conference on Midwifery that will take place during the international forum Women Deliver to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the last week of May.

"Based in Health Centres and Hospitals, midwives are a valuable resource to the communities they serve and they work both in facility, as well as follow up pregnant women who do not come for Antenatal care, provide postnatal care and family planning counselling and services in the community, and assist women who find it difficult to have their birth in a facility. Finally, and of equal importance, they work with local community leaders to help identify and implement local solutions to barriers for using health facilities including improving referral systems, transportation and emergency plans" said Dr. Esther Muia, UNFPA Representative.

During the ceremony, UNFPA handed over to the MoH, professional equipment for Emergency Obstetric Care valued in 68,053 USD to support the efforts of the government to reduce maternal mortality. This equipment will be distributed to 20 health centres and 4 district hospitals in Savannakhet province through MoH.

The training of community midwives also makes part of the Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) programme developed and implemented by the MoH and the United Nations. This programme combines the skills and expertise of UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO and is made possible through a co-financing agreement of more than 8-million euros, signed between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, MoH and the UN.

The International Day of the Midwife is a yearly celebration set aside in 1991 by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) with the aim to raise awareness about the importance of midwives' work to save mothers and newborns lives.

For more information about the Community Midwifery Programme in Lao PDR, please click the link below: