Dr Otieno said the current proportion of births attended by skilled personnel is significantly low at 46.5 percent.
She said the figure at which Zambia now stands is below the World Health Organisation standard of six midwives per 1,000 live births per year.
This is according to a statement made available to Femail to commemorate the International Day of Midwife which was celebrated on Monday May 5.
“Skilled midwifery personnel ensure skilled delivery at birth which is critical to reducing maternal mortality in Zambia, and as such, it is critical that Government and stakeholders prioritise improvement of existing as well as developing new policies in relation to midwifery,” emphasised Dr Otieno.
Meanwhile, Dr Otieno has praised government for progress made in reducing maternal mortality rate from 591 per 100,000 live births in 2007 to 483 per 100,000 live births in 2010. “However, these figures remain high, one of the highest maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.
And Dr Otieno said UNFPA in partnership with Government will employ three strategies to increase availability of midwifery services in Zambia.
“The first is education, where scholarships are provided to midwives to attend midwifery school and we will also support nurses who would like to proceed to midwifery profession,”
“The second is regulation of midwifery by supporting development of the curriculum, guidelines and standards for midwives”.
While the third strategy is to support the Midwifery Association of Zambia.
She said the figure at which Zambia now stands is below the World Health Organisation standard of six midwives per 1,000 live births per year.
This is according to a statement made available to Femail to commemorate the International Day of Midwife which was celebrated on Monday May 5.
“Skilled midwifery personnel ensure skilled delivery at birth which is critical to reducing maternal mortality in Zambia, and as such, it is critical that Government and stakeholders prioritise improvement of existing as well as developing new policies in relation to midwifery,” emphasised Dr Otieno.
Meanwhile, Dr Otieno has praised government for progress made in reducing maternal mortality rate from 591 per 100,000 live births in 2007 to 483 per 100,000 live births in 2010. “However, these figures remain high, one of the highest maternal mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.
And Dr Otieno said UNFPA in partnership with Government will employ three strategies to increase availability of midwifery services in Zambia.
“The first is education, where scholarships are provided to midwives to attend midwifery school and we will also support nurses who would like to proceed to midwifery profession,”
“The second is regulation of midwifery by supporting development of the curriculum, guidelines and standards for midwives”.
While the third strategy is to support the Midwifery Association of Zambia.
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