The plight of nurses and midwives should not only be addressed by governments alone, but partners also should give support to nurses and midwives all over the world, especially those in the developing world.
This would save the lives of millions of women, and protect them from dangerous illnesses caused by pregnancy and child-birth complications.
The question we should ask ourselves is why our nurses and midwives are leaving for greener pastures in developed countries.
If the needs of the nurses and midwives are adequately addressed, they will be prepared to live up to expectations in their profession.
We must not lose sight of the fact that globally there is demand for midwives, and health workers with midwifery skills is on the increase in developed countries.
The issue of maternal death is a cause for concern in most of the developing countries. It is the responsibility of governments and their political leaders to invest in reducing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity.
The launching of the state of the world’s midwifery report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is timely.
For Africa to attain the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, we need to do more work to meet the MDG targets.
Maternal death is a serious concern.
If all pregnant women have access to ante-natal care and well-equipped basic emergency obstetrics and neo-natal care facilities managed by health workers with midwifery skills, all maternal deaths and almost half of alldeaths would be reduced.
The Gambia should be commended for raising the standard of the Nursing and Midwifery cadre in the country, and the Gambia Nurses and Midwives Association for bringing all their professional bodies under one umbrella.
Let us try and meet our health-related MDGs by the year 2015.
