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05 May 2020
Today is the International Day of the Midwife and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has thanked midwives for their vital contribution during such challenging times.
The International Day of the Midwife is held on 5 May each year to celebrate the contribution midwives make to the health and wellbeing of women, families and communities. This year’s theme is ‘Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite.’
Chair of the NMBA, Associate Professor Lynette Cusack, said that this year it was particularly important to recognise midwives and their challenging roles across the country and worldwide.
‘This year is particularly significant for two reasons,’ Associate Professor Cusack said.
‘First, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has made 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The NMBA and other health bodies across the world are coming together to advocate for recognition of these vital professions. The WHO has calculated that the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
‘We are also living through a worldwide pandemic and seeing firsthand how important midwives are to maintain the health and wellbeing of women and families during a health crisis.’
Associate Professor Cusack asked midwives to remember to take care of their own health during the COVID-19 pandemic, too.
‘The NMBA funds an independent health support service, Nurse & Midwife Support, which gives midwives confidential support for health issues. I encourage all midwives to use the service to care for themselves so they can continue to care for women and their babies.’
Nurse & Midwife Support is an independent service which can be reached 24 hours a day on 1800 667 877.