The World Needs Midwives Now More Than Ever

Media Release:

NZNO Celebrates International Day of the Midwife 5 May 2009 –

'The World Needs Midwives Now More Than Ever’

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) acknowledges and celebrates the midwives working in hospital and community settings around the New Zealand.

This year’s International Midwives Day theme is based on Millennium Development Goal 5 – to improve maternal health. The theme set by the International Confederation of Midwives is 'The World Needs Midwives Now More Than Ever’.

Skilled midwives improve the outcomes for mothers and babies and are fundamental to the ongoing health and well being of the nation. In New Zealand, as around the world, there is a shortage of skilled and qualified midwives. A recent survey of NZNO Midwife members (Kai Tiaki February 2009) indicates that many midwives around the country are working in situations where there are too few midwives.

“Staff shortages around the country are reported as moderate or severe and many midwives are experiencing the effects of this. Sadly, many are choosing to leave the profession altogether. Many midwives are reporting working in very stressful and unsafe staffing situations,” NZNO Professional Nursing Advisor Kate Weston said.

“Safe staffing continues as one of the major NZNO campaigns. NZNO continues to work through the NZNO/DHBNZ safe staffing healthy workplaces unit . There is a critical need to implement the recommendations from the committee of inquiry with urgency,” said Weston.

ENDS