Lubero: The Biena Health Zone in Lubero territory, North Kivu, has been grappling with a shortage of midwives for nearly a year. This issue was highlighted by Dr. Demetrio Thembo Kipisa, the medical director of the Mambowa General Referral Hospital, during the International Day of the Midwife.

According to Radio Okapi, Dr. Thembo stated that his facility currently employs only seven midwives, which falls significantly short of the maternity ward’s requirements. He urged parents to guide their children towards schools that offer midwifery training, emphasizing the critical role this profession plays in supporting pregnant women through childbirth.

He noted that after three years of training at a higher institute or four years at a Medical Technical Institute (ITM), students are qualified to professionally care for pregnant women.

“The message I want to convey to the community is to encourage parents to guide their children towards this still little-known field. In the past, most people opted for general nursing training. Today, there are specialized fields like midwifery that provide specific pregnancy and childbirth care,” Dr. Thembo remarked.

Local sources indicate that this shortage is occurring in an already vulnerable health context, characterized by insecurity and the closure of several health facilities, making it all the more crucial to strengthen human resources in maternal health.

SOURCE: RADIO OKAPI