According to the Dean of College of Medicine and Health Sciences College of Arba Minch University (AMU) this is being celebrated for the first time in the history of the university as well as the department today where huge number of staffs students of different categories and other supporters marching on the main streets of Arba Minch on the 5th of May 2012.
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labor and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding. The contribution of Midwives has a pivotal importance in the realization of the GTP, the MDG and ensuring quality of health care.
The main objective of marching out on this special day was to raise awareness about the profession “Midwifery” locally, nationally, regionally and globally and donating blood for health care services.
Ato Behailu Merdekios, Dean of College of Medicine and Health Sciences College of Arba Minch University on his opening speech of the celebration mentioned that, the 2012 world midwifery day’s celebration has its own objectives to leave a message to the world that adequate, motivated and skilled midwives are needed more than ever to Ethiopia to reduce unacceptable maternal deaths resulting due to various problems related to pregnancy, child birth and Puerperium and also reduce neonatal mortality, and substantially improve the experience of childbearing women before, during and after childbirth, celebrating the achievements of midwives and highlight progress made in improving maternal and neonatal care and midwifery services and lobby for more resources for midwifery, midwifery education, and recognition of the unique professional role of midwives.
In the celebration over one hundred and fifty students over fifty staffs and volunteers from the colleges have participated and display the yearly motto in a peaceful demonstration, and more than hundred volunteer students have donate blood in solidarity of the movement made towards saving mothers who die due to bleeding as a result of pregnancy and related complications and support the health care provision in Arba Minch Hospital.
The dean acknowledged the cooperation of the Ethiopian Red Cross society Arba Minch Branch for its cooperation, all participated in the demonstration.
Reported by Geta Fekede
Public and External Relation Expert
Corporate Communication Directorate
Arba Minch University - May 2012
