Midwifery Conference Held to Improve Better Care

Last week, eighty midwives from various Provinces attended a Solomon Islands Midwifery Conference with the theme "Strengthening Midwifery Services to Support Reproductive Health in Solomon Islands."

Held at the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) conference room in Honiara, the workshop was facilitated by the officers of the National Hospital's Obstetrics, Paediatrics and the Gynae Departments.

Mrs. Judith Seke, the Reproductive Health Manager, told Solomon Times that the main objective of the conference was to bring up to date the midwifery skills and knowledge so that Solomon Island midwives are well equipped to efficiently manage their clinics or hospitals.

According to Mrs. Seke, this is the second time such conference was held. The last one was in 2004.

"Out of the nine provinces present in this conference, only the Rennell and Bellona Province were not able to attend. After this conference, we expect the participants to provide quality care for mothers and new born babies because of the new skills and knowledge learnt," she said.

Covered in the workshop are Pregnancy and Antenatal care, Labour Management and Postpartum care, Neo Natal Care and Reproductive Health.

The workshop was jointly funded by the UNFPA, WHO, Health Sector, Strengthening Progress (HSSP) and the Solomon Islands Government.