Thursday, May 31, 2007

Cambodia Celebrates Midwife World Day

Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
30/05/2007

Health experts said over the weekend that many pregnant women benefit from the knowledge of midwives for the safe delivery of their children, as the country celebrated World Midwife Day.

Midwives occupy a critical stratus in Cambodian society, where hospitals are few and far between and child birth often takes place in remote areas. Other experts cautioned, however, that birth through midwifery could be dangerous.

"As midwives united to solidify our own career expertise for a safe and clean delivery, today we are making people aware that when they go into labor, they must seek help at the hospital or look for an educated midwife," Dr. Ou Saroeum, president of the Cambodian Midwives Association, said.

Chun Chanthach, president of the Mothers and Enfants National Support Center, said babies delivered by traditional midwife faced high risks, as did their mothers. The center worked to ensure midwives were sending complicated cases to health centers immediately.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I recognize to role played by rural midwives in the rural communities. Government trained midwives have been reluctant to work in the rural areas, explaining the high rate of Maternal Mortality.
The Ministry of Health has recognized this fact and has started recruiting middle educated rural young women to be formally trained as midwives.....just like before.......that means before 1970's.....

Anonymous said...

Please do not drop baby head on the floor we would have another Hun Xen to deal with.