Prophesied gains in reducing maternal deaths in Sri Lanka
By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
International Day of the Midwife- May 5th
Interview with Linda Doull, Director of Health and Policy, MERLIN, London
1.What’s the importance of International Day of the Midwife?
Linda Doull: The International day of the Midwife is important to raise two concerns. One the important role of midwife play in supporting women during pregnancy and child birth. And, that becomes most significant, when we realize hundred and thousand of women die during child birth. Here, at least 75% percentage of death could be prevented if they had access to skilled midwives when they need the most.
2.What is your main message This year for the International Day of the Midwife?
Linda Doull: I think the main message has to be in the context of health workers shortage globally. And there are still not enough midwives in the world, especially in Sub-Saharan, Africa and South East Asia. And the message is that we really need to invest more in midwives, so fewer women die in child birth.
3.There are so many expectant mothers in the North and East of Sri Lanka, who are facing numerous health issues. Can you please briefly explain what needs to be done during pregnancy?
Linda Doull: Well, right form the beginning of pregnancy the women need to have access to a skilled health worker to ensure she is getting appropriate care during the pregnancy and then of course to have a skilled health workers when she….But it is important during pregnancy that the mother is taking care of nutrition and general health. For example, places like Sri Lanka they try to avoid Malaria infections and the access health care and access to iron tablets, techno odes, and injections. And all that can be offered to women, if they have access to skilled health worker.
4.Does All Mothers Matter cover Sri Lanka as well?
Linda Doull: Well the report is important and that it covers any country where there is an insufficient shortages of midwifes. Now we know Sri Lanka has made many prophesies gains in reducing maternal deaths and Sri Lanka in many ways has seen as an example when considerable investment has been what you can achieved. And we know that some parts of Sri Lanka that it’s not been successful in particular North and East being a particular area of concerned. While SL has gains we feel report is essential to achieve the last portion to ensure that all women in Sri Lanka has access to skill birth attendance.
5.What are the main challenges for pregnant mothers in times of crisis/ emergency?
Linda Doull: There are number of concerns.
1. the women themselves are under stress to look after themselves and their families particularly they have concerns of accessing fluid, safe water and shelter for themselves and their families
2. In time of crisis the health services are quite suspected either because staff no longer stay in the area or because it is unsafe or because the health facilities are overloaded as the demand for health facilities have increased. It is important that pregnant women find the facilities where there is help of skilled workers who are able to address their need.
3. In addition to that the women should be proper food and safe water and somewhere they can rest obviously for their own health and of the unborn child
6. Can you please give some tips to midwives on how to handle expectant mothers in a conflict area?
Linda Doull: Quiet a lot of experience in the conflict world how midwifes can help pregnant mothers.
Create a sense of space where ever there are facilities available to have a tent where it will help provide quiet space and a private space where women can be seen by health workers. Where they can discuss their concerns, they can be examine by the workers and have some where clean and safe to deliver their child and it doesn’t take that much equipment to do that. It needs to be prioritized as new role to help with the humanitarian response to the crisis.
7.Any advice to the Government of Sri Lanka or any Government to deal with pregnant mothers during a crisis/ emergency?
Linda Doull: The Sri Lankan government has invested in helping the maternal health care and now what’s important is for the country to really to achieves its MDG target is to ensure that women in North and East have access to maternal health services ever during the crisis period. And the require government to allocate resources and finances to ensure that skilled health staff will be attended to the requirement in the North and East of Sri Lanka.
[Interview with Linda Doul was conducted for internews.lk]
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HumanityAshore.org ~ Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com
