DILI, 12 april 2024 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste Midwifery Association (APTL) with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held a National Workshop on Timor-Leste Midwifery Professional Standards.
The workshop aims to improve the midwifery skills of Timorese midwives in order to boost the quality of midwifery care in the country, which will contribute to ending maternal mortality.
Lidia Gomez, the President of APTL, said that the workshop will improve the skills of the Timorese midwives to provide support and care to pregnant mothers during pregnancy, labor, and birth.
“Improving the quality of midwifery care is crucial to reducing maternal mortality in the country,” she said.
Previously, UNFPA said that the lack of skilled birth attendants during pregnancy and childbirth is a big challenge in addressing Timor-Leste’s high maternal and infant mortality rates in the region – 195 per 100,000 live births maternal mortality ratio and 30 per 1,000 live births infant mortality rate.
Bruce Campbell, the UNFPA Representative in Timor-Leste said that UNFPA will continue to work enthusiastically with the national midwifery association and midwifery schools, to end maternal mortality in Timor-Leste.
“As part of the continuous support of UNFPA to the APTL, UNFPA has the pleasure to support the important event today to discuss the Timor-Leste Midwifery Standard Competency, as building a competent, well-trained and well-supported midwifery workforce is crucial to ensure the provision of quality health care for mothers and babies,” he said.
Campbell said that making motherhood safer is a top priority for UNFPA: “When midwives are well trained, adequate in number, and appropriately supported to provide a better quality of care, they can prevent about two-thirds of preventable maternal and newborn deaths. They could also deliver 87% of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services. This is exactly what the country needs to bring down maternal mortality.”
He said that midwives and people with midwifery skills are the main caregivers for women and their newborns during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and in the post-delivery period: “Yet they do not just deliver babies: Well-trained midwives can provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services, and play a critical role in promoting health within their communities.”
UNFPA Timor-Leste is supporting the national midwifery association (APTL) and midwifery education since its establishment. The support to the APTL includes the development of the midwifery association strategic plan, professional standard, registration of the APTL as ICM member, capacity building of the members through engagements of the representative members in the training and workshop in national, regional and international levels. Furthermore, the support is also through advocacy activities conducted by APTL during international and national midwife’s day.
Campbell stressed that UNFPA focuses on four key areas: strengthening competency-based midwifery training; developing strong regulatory mechanisms to ensure quality services; raising the voices of midwives by establishing and strengthening midwifery associations; and advocating for increased investments in midwifery services: “UNFPA also works to create a supportive environment for midwives by advocating for adequate workforce policies for midwives.”
“As a next step, UNFPA will continue the work and partnership with governments and other partners to strengthen the midwifery association and midwifery education in Timor-Leste. By safeguarding and certifying the qualifications, skills and competencies of midwives in the country could we truly ensure safe delivery, to save the lives of our mother and babies,” Campbell concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
