Midwives' Delegates' conference opens

The Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA) has been mandated to develop a Safe Motherhood protocol and Reproductive Health (RH) policy for the country, Ms Kathleen Ababio, President of the GRMA announced in Accra on Friday. Speaking at the opening of the annual delegates' conference of the GRMA, Ms Ababio said this was in recognition of the Association's role as a key provider and leader in women's health care.

"This recognition ensured opening up of the Association to both public and private sector midwives found throughout the country," she said.

Representatives of the GRMA from all the 10 regions are participating in the conference on the theme "Health and Quality Care in Midwifery."

It is being sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Ms. Ababio, said the association, which was established in 1935, gained recognition by government in 1953 and was accepted into the International Confederation of Midwives the following year.

She said the midwives' assistance in Post Abortion Care (PAC) and their efforts in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity has also gained them international recognition.

Ms Ababio said sustainability is the major challenge facing the Association, adding that the Drug Revolving Fund Programme would be made viable to make the Association self-sustaining.

She said plans are far advanced for the construction of a three-storey multi-purpose-training centre for educational programmes as an income-generating venture.

Ms. Ababio urged all midwives to be vigilant in the provision of quality reproductive services to mothers and thanked the UNFPA for its support.

Dr. Ziem Yaan-Tol, in charge of the UNFPA's reproductive health programmes said the Agency's project with GRMA is to strengthen the association's institutional capacity to implement quality and affordable RH services in a culturally sensitive manner.

"This is also to increase the percentage of women utilising RH service, especially antenatal, postnatal and family planning services of private midwives."

He urged participants to improve their attitudes towards clients, especially during delivery, adding that this would help individuals and couples meet their reproductive health needs.

He advised the participants to ensure that the outcome of their deliberations feed into the MOH's second step programme of work for Maternal Health Services (2002-2006) and the fourth cycle of UNFPA assistance to Ghana starting in January 2001.