Corniche Hospital, owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), marked the International Day of the Midwife with a walk to raise awareness of global inequalities in maternal and newborn health.

The International Day of the Midwife is committed to reducing inequality through greater access to expert midwife care, particularly in developing countries where 90 percent of maternal deaths occur, said the organisers of the march.

“The world needs midwives more than ever. Access to essential midwifery services reduces maternal and infant mortality and reduces the cycle of poverty in developing countries,' remarked Jane Abdulali, president of Midwives Section at the Emirates Nursing Association, who led a group of midwives from the hospital to Marina Mall.

According to health experts, more than 340,000 women die in childbirth of preventable causes each year around the world, with millions more suffering infection and disability.

'We want to demonstrate our commitment to tackling maternal and newborn mortality by walking shoulder to shoulder with midwives and mothers around the world. While inequalities are a global issue, we wanted to raise awareness of local challenges,' said Abdulali.

'Right here in the UAE, the quality of maternal and newborn care is being affected by the lack of available midwives. We want to see mothers and babies getting the support they need through increased global and local commitment to midwifery services,' she added.

Lynda Mikalauskas, chief clinical officer, said: “Corniche Hospital, being managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International, is the largest maternity hospital in the UAE and we are proud of our women-centered, midwife-led care.'

'We know that there are shortages of midwives in the UAE and around the world, and we are proud to lead the efforts towards a sustainable maternity workforce in Abu Dhabi to ensure that all women who need a midwife have access to one.'

'Late last year, we inaugurated the Abu Dhabi’s first Midwifery Training Program, which trains UAE Nationals, offering post-grad certification in midwifery,' she added.

The 'International Day of the Midwife' walk, which started at 5:30 pm on Saturday, was the symbolic beginning of a journey that will conclude at the International Confederation of Midwives Congress in Durban, South Africa.-TradeArabia News Service