By Kemi Olatunde

The concept of respectful maternity care should be introduced into the curriculum of Nurses and Midwivery in order to achieve effective professionalism.

This was the submission of the Administrative Secretary, Ondo State Hospitals’ Management Board ( HMB), Dr. Bobola Babatola while declaring open a training in commemoration of the International day of Midwives in Akure on Friday.

According to him, attitude of professionals is among the challenges confronting the health sector noting that it is important that they work on their attitude saying “our clients deserve the best of their professional experience hence, there is need to take care of the emotional and psychological aspects of clients.”

While appreciating the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for her massive investment in the health sector including the institutionalization of the teaching hospital, provision of equipment and health commodities to health facilities and recruitment of health professionals among others, he also expressed appreciation to the convener of the training, Praise Dahunsi for her passion for Midwivery and charged participants to be focused on bringing improvement to the profession and the health sector by extension.

In her goodwill message, Director, Nursing Services, Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Adeyinka Kajero described the profession as a unique one stating that it is important that Midwives speak well of the profession for its sustainability.

She implored them to use the occasion to improve their knowledge adding that they should also scale down the training to the coming generation.

Mentor of the convener, Mrs Oluwaseyi stressed the need for respect for clients in their daily encounter at work.

State Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Mr. Kehinde Olomiye stressed the need for the to be of good conduct saying “alot of people look up to us as Midwives.”

He urged them to be more committed and dedicated to duty calling on government to employ more midwives into the system in order to reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.

He also advised that that they lay solid foundation for the coming generation to thrive.

Representative, Director, Nursing Services, HMB, Mrs Helen Babatola called on all to imbibe the passion culture adding that they should be open minded and key into the principles of the profession.

In her welcome address, Convener of the exercise, Praise Dahunsi described respectful maternal care as an organised care on women’s right in maternal care adding that the exercise is a capacity building for midwives in the state.

Calling for training for more midwives, she stressed the need for a working health system for effective care in Nigeria.

Dahunsi who said that she has been selected to take part in the International Confederation of Midwives which aimed at advancing midwifery education and the role of the professional midwife, to improve the standard of maternal and child health care, and to support among others, said the theme for the celebration is “together again from evidence to reality.”