PRESS RELEASE International Day of Midwife 2021
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PRESS RELEASE International Day of Midwife 2021: Investing in Midwives Saves lives, Improves Health, and Strengthens Health Systems JAKARTA, 25 May 2021—Two women in Indonesia die every hour from complications during pregnancy, birth, and post-delivery, 2015 Intercensal Population Survey (Supas) found. Among the highest in Southeast Asia, Indonesia needs to urgently reduce its maternal mortality rate (MMR), as well as Newborn Mortality Rate (IMR), which impacts the wellbeing, health, and quality of life of women, families, and ultimately, the nation. Midwives play a key role in addressing these issues. Midwives’ work is critical in ensuring that women can enjoy the fulfilment of their sexual and reproductive health and rights by providing counselling and family planning services, quality antenatal- intrapartum-postpartum care, post abortion care, essential newborn care, counselling and testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), services for gender- based violence (GBV) survivors and partners, and advocating for the abandonment of harmful practices, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Since 1992, midwives throughout the world have celebrated the recognition for their contributions and work through the observation of International Day of the Midwife (IDM) every 5 May. This year, we are celebrating it under the theme of “Follow the Data: Invest in Midwives.” The Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), in partnership with the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of the Indonesia (KSP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Indonesia, and Knowledge Hub of Reproductive Health – Public Health Faculty of University of Indonesia, with support from Global Affairs Canada, held a 2021 IDM webinar on Zoom and Youtube streaming today, at 08.30 - 12.30 WIB. Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Former Commander of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Dr. H. Moeldoko, S.I.P, congratulated and applauded midwives for their major contribution to maternal and newborn health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Midwives are the backbone of the health system, particularly for maternal and child health. We must support midwives in improving their competencies and professionalism,” he said. “Midwives are our country’s assets. Without midwives, it will be difficult to achieve progress,” he added. “To achieve their full life-saving, health-improving, and system-strengthening potential, midwives must be well educated, adequately trained, and appropriately regulated,” UNFPA Indonesia Representative, Anjali Sen, remarked. “They must also work in an environment that enables them to be effective – which includes working as part of a supportive, multi-disciplinary team, and with appropriate resources. Investment in midwives needs to include investing not only in their numbers but particularly in their education, ongoing training, regulation, and working environment,” she asserted. "Midwives also play a key role in supporting the monitoring of growth and development in the first 1000 days of life as a golden period to prevent stunting and build the quality of the future generations,” Dr. Emi Nurjasmi, Chairwoman of the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), explained. “Midwifery care is provided on an ongoing basis (Continuum of Care) by empowering women and their families, as well as the community,” she continued. “In Canada, just like in Indonesia, midwives play an important role as women-centered health care providers. Canada believes that strengthening the role of midwives is important for upholding the right to sexual and reproductive health services for women and youth. When women and youth, especially girls have control over decisions regarding their reproductive lives, maternal and child mortality and morbidity decreases and families thrive,” H.E. Cameron MacKay, Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia, said during his opening remark. Investment in midwives Investment in midwives is essential for meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, particularly the reduction of preventable maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity, as well as universal access to sexual reproductive health and rights. Competency of midwives, accessibility of services, and quality of facilities should be prioritized. Acting Director General of Development and Empowerment of Human Resources (PPSDM) of Ministry of Health dr. Kirana Pritasari, MQIH as the keynote speaker, said, “The Government of Indonesia realizes that midwives are our strong allies in combating many reproductive health issues, in particular the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality. The Ministry of Health has invested in the village midwife programme, and continues to strengthen the capacity of midwives in health facilities.” “There is an urgent need to increase the number of midwives globally. However, quantity alone is not enough. Investment in quality midwives and a strong health system is a must,” UNFPA Indonesia Assistant Representative Dr. dr. Melania Hidayat, MPH emphasized. Knowledge Hub-FKMUI Coordinator Prof. dr. Budi Utomo, MPH, PhD also highlighted midwives’ roles in providing primary care, screening risk factors among pregnant women, and providing prompt referrals as necessary. It was echoed by Frida S. Pay, SST, M.Kes., who shared her experience as the midwife coordinator of the community health center (Puskesmas) at Sikumana, Kupang City. If she finds complications during regular antenatal care (ANC), she refers her patients to healthcare facilities that provide a higher level of care. “We usually face challenges in providing referrals when an emergency arises. Therefore, it is preferable to plan referral care to avoid delay in handling the complications,” she said. Collaboration and concerted efforts are required to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in Indonesia. To conclude, Senior Advisor at the Executive Office of The President Republic of Indonesia, Dr. dr. Brian Sri Prahastuti, MPH (KSP) said, “It is now the time for the government and private sector, with strong support from civil society and the community, to work hand in hand in improving maternal and newborn health.” The talk show also covered findings and analysis from the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) developed by UNFPA, World Health Organization (WHO) and International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) (the report is available here). About Indonesian Midwives Association Indonesian Midwives Association (IMA) is a professional organization which was established on June 24, 1951. IMA was registered as a professional health association at the Department of Justice of the Republic of Indonesian on October 15, 1954, as stipulated in the State Gazette No. JA. 5927. In 1956 IBI registered as a member of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). IMA has 34 chapters which represent 34 provinces with 514 branches on district level and 4.847 sub- branches on sub-districts level. IMA is a forum to unite Indonesian midwives which has a vision to become a reliable professional organization in creating global standard professional midwives. About the Executive Office of the President Republic of Indonesia The Executive Office of the President Republic of Indonesia is a non-structural institution that is under and responsible to the President, and is led by the Presidential Chief of Staff who since January 18 2018 has been officially held by General Moeldoko. The Office was previously known as the Presidential Staff Unit which was formed based on Presidential Regulation Number 190 of 2014 concerning Presidential Work Units but with the expansion of the function of the Presidential Chief of Staff, the Presidential Staff Unit changed its name to the Executive Office of the President Republic of Indonesia. The legal basis for the change of name is contained in Presidential Regulation Number 26 of 2015 concerning the Executive Office of the President Republic of Indonesia which was ratified by the President on February 23, 2015. UNFPA in Indonesia UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency with a mission to “deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled”. UNFPA began its partnership with Indonesia in 1972 to deliver strengthened family planning services, demographic research, and population education programmes at schools. Since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), UNFPA has been one of Indonesia’s most prominent partners in reproductive health, youth, population and development, and gender equality. About Global Affairs Canada Global Affairs Canada is mandated with implementing Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy and its suite of feminist international policies, programs and initiatives across its commitments in diplomacy, trade, security, development and consular services. Canada and Indonesia share a long-standing partnership of over 65 years, with over $1 billion in official development assistance to Indonesia since 2000. Aligned with its Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), Canada is committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementing their 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). For more information, please contact: ● Dian Agustino, UNFPA Indonesia - Communications Officer: [email protected], 0813-1026-0581 ● Mitra Kadarsih, Technical