New midwifery training to aid reduction of maternal, neonatal fatalities

A new midwifery training dubbed ‘The First Midwives Guyana Project’ is expected to equip local healthcare professionals with the skills needed to improve the level of care being accessed by pregnant women, ultimately reducing Guyana’s maternal and neonatal fatality rate.
The programme administered by experts from the Canadian Network for International Surgery is a joint venture being spearheaded by the Governments of Guyana and Canada, and is being powered by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Guyana Times understands that the initiative is set to transform midwifery education and practice, resulting in improved birth outcomes, decreased infant mortality and shorter hospital stays, among others.
During Tuesday’s launch at the Health Ministry’s Boardroom on Brickdam, Deputy Director of Health Sciences Education, Chandroutie Persaud disclosed that simulation exercises will be conducted in batch of fours and fives, fostering a more hands-on learning approach and catering for each student’s needs and learning style.
“The First Midwives Guyana Project will implement several key activities strengthening both the hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge of midwifery and medex students. These include three basic areas such as the collaborative training programmes with our esteemed partners the Canadian Network for International Surgery where you will have expert trainer to facilitate structured session”.
“The impact of this programme will be profound and long lasting. With enhanced skills and confidence our midwives will be better prepared to provide high quality care leading to more positive health outcomes for both mothers and newborns. We expect this initiative to result in significant reduction in preventable complications during pregnancy and child birth, also we expect a decrease in unnecessary medical intervention and an increase in satisfaction among women with their birthing experience,” Persaud shared.
The Deputy Director of Health Sciences Education added that several local midwives will benefit from administration training, which is geared towards promoting the sustainability of the programme.
“We will also have a mentorship programme where we will have 25 midwives who will be trained to guide our students and to nurture this programme so that we will have sustainability and continuality are this grant expires… We know that skilled midwives are essential for reducing maternal and infant mortality, ensuring safe pregnancies, and fostering the holistic well-being of mothers and babies. This initiative is not just about training; it’s about investing in the health and future of communities across Guyana,” she emphasised.
As of September 2024, Guyana has recorded a 60 per cent decrease in neonatal deaths when compared to same period in 2023.
According to data provided by the head of GPHC to the local media, there have been some 28 babies died within an average of 28 or more days of their birth this year while 68 babies died last year.
Meanwhile, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) recorded its lowest maternal death record with 10 maternal deaths for 2023.
It was disclosed during GPHC’s end of year report that three women died due to ectopic pregnancies, three due to respiratory disorders, another three died of hypertensive conditions during their pregnancies, and one faced a hypovolemic shock after her c-section. (G1)