Midwives across Myanmar are improving the quality of services they provide pregnant women, new mothers and newborns, according to a consultation in where midwifery’s top brass met to compare the 2011 country findings with the latest results of questionnaires prepared in advance of the UNFPA and 2014 State of the World Midwifery report. This was the topic of a stakeholder workshop attended by UNFPA health representatives held in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday (28 January 2014).

Participants at the one-day event also included experts from the Myanmar Department of Health, the Ministry of Health, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Nurse and Midwife Association, UNFPA Midwifery and Reproductive Health national officers, representatives from other UN agencies, international NGOs, in-service Midwives, international NGOs and national NGOs, principals from Midwifery training schools and the Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine. 

The workshop highlighted the results of the international report which all parties collaborated on jointly. The report will provide an updated analysis of the present and future challenges to deliver effective coverage of midwifery services in the 75 countries that collectively represent more than 95% of the global burden of maternal, neonatal and child deaths. A core focus will be on addressing the current inequities in access to midwifery services and the adverse pregnancy related outcomes resulting. 

The data analysis derived from the questionnaires conducted in Myanmar, showed clear signs of progress in Myanmar's midwifery workforce, including services coverage, quality of services, training, as well as improved regulations and the current status of maternal and new born mortality and morbidity in Myanmar. 

Ms. Janet E Jackson, UNFPA’s Myanmar Representative said that “midwives play a very important role in bringing new lives safely into the world. It is there very important to continue boosting Myanmar’s midwifery services such as safety training, deployment and practices professionally across the country.” 

The report said many different types of professional and non-professional staff all listed as “midwives” or “ Maternal Health and New born Health (MNH) workers. These health professionals provide care for women during pregnancy, labour, delivery and the postpartum period, as well as care for the newborns. The term “midwife” refers to a “responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period." A midwife is also responsible for the conduct of births and to provide care for the newborn and the infant, according to the report. 

Dr. Yin Thandar Lwin, Director of Public Health, from Myanmar's Department of Health, said midwifery education, services and deployment of competent and committed midwives is the “most important factor for Myanmar in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 -- Reducing Child Mortality and 5 -- Improving Maternal Health by 2015. 

Dr. Hla Hla Aye, UNFPA Assistant Representative, urged all the participants to discuss how to reach these goals. The discussions derived from the workshop would be used as a basis “for evidence based policy dialogue and development of post 2015 development agenda for Midwifery in Myanmar,” she said. 
 

The State of the World Midwifery 2014 report is part of a 75 country ground-breaking research coordinated by UNFPA and the World Health Organisation on behalf of the H4+ (UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO and World Bank) and International Federation of Midwives. The report also supports the Every Woman, Every Child campaign, promoting country actions and partner support to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as inform the inter-governmental process on a post-2015 development agenda for health. 

The publication and launch of the State of the World Midwifery 2014 report will coincide with the 30th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives which will take place in Prague, Czech Republic on 01-05 June, 2014. The theme for the congress is “Midwives: Improving Women’s Health Globally”.