"I dreamt of becoming a midwife since my childhood days in junior high school. I had accompanied my sister to give birth. Young and helpless, In the maternity ward, I witnessed pregnant mothers screaming in pain as a few busy midwives rushed to the delivery room. 

“My strong desire to be a midwife to help pregnant mothers and their babies was affirmed by that experience,” narrates Dulce dos Santos, a midwife working at Liquica Community Health Center in Timor-Leste. 

As we mark the International Day of the Midwife, celebrated on May 5 every year, UNFPA Timor-Leste celebrates all midwives for their life-saving impact on securing the health and safety of mothers and babies in Timor-Leste.

UNFPA Timor-Leste spoke to Mrs. Dulce dos Santos, a midwife with over 20 years’ experience, to share her midwifery story.

UNPA Timor-Leste: Could you tell us more about your background?

Dulce dos Santos: I was born in Liquica municipality, on April 4, 1974 and started my primary education at the São João de Brito de Liquica Catholic primary school in 1982 where I graduated in 1987. 

For my pre-secondary education, I attended the same school where I graduated in 1989 and had the opportunity to join nursing school in Lahane, in Dili in 1990 graduating in 1993. 

UNFPA Timor-Leste: Where did you pursue your nursing education?

Dulce dos Santos:  I had more opportunities to study midwifery at Diploma level 1 in the same school and graduated at the beginning of 1995. I was posted to Covalima municipality to work as a midwife where I stayed for three years.

I later applied for a scholarship to pursue further studies in midwifery education and was selected for a midwifery Diploma 3 course at the University of Ngudi Waluyo in 2014, and graduated in 2017.

UNFPA Timor-Leste: What is your most memorable experience as a midwife?

Dulce dos Santos:  My most memorable experience as a midwife was in February 2021. I attended pregnant women with birth complications and to successfully save the mother and baby.  Though the birth was normal after the delivery, the newborn baby could not breathe. The mother and father of the baby were crying as I tried to resuscitate the baby. Soon the baby began breathing and the mother and father regained their hopes. The family still consider it a miracle to this date. “It gives me great joy to bring hope to those who have already lost hope.” 

UNFPA Timor-Leste: What is your message to midwives as we mark the International Day of the Midwife?

Dulce dos Santos:  I take this opportunity to congratulate and wish a happy International Day of the Midwife to all midwives around the world -- especially in my beloved country Timor-Leste. I urge all midwives to continue to maintain professionalism and offering quality services to pregnant mothers and babies to contribute to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality rates in our country.

For more information, contact:

Suleiman Okoth

Communications and Programme Support Specialist
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Timor-Leste

UN House, Caicoli Street
Dili, Timor-Leste

Mobile: +670 75169796
WhatsApp: +254 780534026

Email; okoth@unfpa.org