Today is International Day of the Midwife

#InternationalDayofMidwife, #WorldHealthOrganization, #HandHygieneDay,  #AgendaforSustainableDevelopment; #InternationalConfederationofMidwives

​New York, May 5 (Canadian-Media): The International Day of the Midwife (IDM), observed every year on May 5 recognizes the important role played by these healthcare professionals helping mothers, and expectant-mothers, make informed, healthy choices for themselves and their babies and  in preventing maternal and newborn deaths, media reports said.

 it was first launched by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) on May 5, in 1992 and since then this day is globally celebrated as IDM.

Midwife reportedly is a professional  specializing in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, women's sexual and reproductive health

The theme for this year’s observance of the IDM is: “Midwives leading the way with quality care.”

Ahead of the observance of IDM, Elizabeth Iro, World Health Organization's (WHO)'s chief Nursing Officer, said everywhere communities were best served when midwives work together with mothers and their newborns.

“This is based on research that demonstrates that not only is continuity of care preferred by women but also that there are profound impacts, including a 24 per cent reduction in pre-term births,” said Iro

According to evidence, added Iro, 87 percent of the needs of women and newborns are reportedly met by professionally-qualified midwives and also highlighted the importance of the role of midwives on tpe globally-agreed 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Midwife performing ultrasound. Image credit: Wikipedia

​Progress on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health being key health targets to meet development goal Iro said that this puts midwives at the centre of delivering this agenda.

“As midwives we have come a long way” she said, “to help all women, newborns and their families to not only survive but to thrive and transform the world we live in.”

Hand Hygiene Day is also being observed today, highlighting the importance of washing your hands regularly to ward off infections or disease.

“It’s in your hands: prevent sepsis in health care”, is the theme this year.

“Join us and be a champion promoting hand hygiene and preventing sepsis in health care,” said Iro.

Iro said that this practice is all the more important for midwives, as sepsis – a life-threatening condition – affects three million newborns, can kill up to five hundred thousand before they are a month old, and causes one in ten maternal deaths.​