Midwifery

It is an old-age health practice mostly performed by elderly women in rural areas who assisted pregnant women in the course of delivery. With time it grew to become a formal healthcare practice with trained personnel. However, the practice was later on neglected as it was assumed that nurses could faithfully look after pregnant women. But with the growing rate of infant and maternal mortality, there is awareness around the profession of midwifery with a growing demand both nationally and internationally for skilled workers to look after pregnant women and assist them in the delicate process of child birth. It may sound like everyday health profession that can be performed by any health personnel, but midwifery is a specialty on its own opened to both men and women who have the love for the process of childbearing..

Studies and Duration

The programme is organized by the Ministries of Higher Education and Public Health to include both theory and regular practices in health facilities and maternities. It runs for three years and at the end the student prepares and publicly defends a project and also takes a national examination as requirements for the award of a Higher National Diploma (HND) in midwifery by the Ministry of Higher Education with the collaboration of the Ministry of Public Health.

Employment Opportunities

Midwives can work in maternities, health centres, hospitals, NGOs in the domain of health and childcare and they can as well open their own health facility.

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