Call for better midwife training facilities in Ghana

An appeal has been made to the government of Ghana to improve infrastructure at training schools and combat a shortfall in midwives.

The Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA) has said inadequate infrastructure and a lack of logistics and recreation facilities is limiting student numbers.

Mrs Joyce Jetuah, the President of GRMA, made the appeal on Wednesday during the closing of the Eighth Biennial General Meeting of the Association at Winneba.

She called on the government to provide incentives and logistics to enable midwives to deliver their services, especially to difficult-to-reach communities or remote areas.

Mrs Jetuah said there was the need for regular training of practicing midwives to update their knowledge on new concepts and practices to enable them to deliver improved services.

She added that the country had about 3780 midwives, including nurse-midwives, most of who are between 40 and 60 years.

She also appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to assist the GRMA with funds, equipment and relevant literature and called on District Assemblies to set up a permanent scholarship scheme.

It is hoped that a boost in midwives would help the country’s chances of reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) on maternal and child mortality.