Lao celebration of International Day of the Midwife

(KPL) The International Day of the Midwife is celebrated around the world, usually on the 5th of May to bring attention to the role of midwives for keeping mothers and babies safe, and to the fact that there is a need for more midwives if countries are to achieve the Millennium Development Goal. UNFPA along with other Development partners are happy to join the Ministry of Health on this day (11th May) to join in the Lao celebration of this day.
With other development partners UNFPA have been a close supporter of MOH in their initiatives to achieve their Millennium Development Goals and particularly in developing and implementing actions for reducing maternal mortality and newborn deaths as outlined in the National SBA Plan which deals with human resources needed for provision of skilled care in pregnancy, for childbirth and for close support and surveillance for mothers and babies in the weeks after birth. Skilled healthcare personal, especially midwives at the community level have an important role to play in the provision of services for maternal, neonatal and child health and are therefore vital for the implementation of national Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Integrated Service Delivery Package.As UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmd Obaid announced in her recent message to mark the “ International Day of the Midwife” the presence of a midwife at birth can mean the difference between life and death.”
UNFPA Country Office Lao PDR are committed to working with MoH and with other partners over the longer period to ensure the dream of all women in Lao PDR having care from a competent midwife at birth does become a reality. Childbirth should be the time of joy and celebration and not a tragedy or something to be feared.