Over 200 midwifery trainers from Asia Pacific region benefited from UNFPA and Burnet Institute series of virtual trainings that begun on February 18 to strengthen midwifery training curriculums.
Participants are required to attend three more courses scheduled for February 25, March 11 and March 18 and make final submission of their assignments -- certificates will be awarded after successful completion of the course.
Ten midwifery trainers from Timor-Leste, were among other trainers from Cambodia, Philipines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan who participated in the inaugural course.
According to the State of the 2020 World’s Midwifery report, well-trained midwives can prevent approximately two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths.
“The training in partnership with UNFPA will help strengthen the capacity of midwives and improve midwifery training curriculum in the region. The training will focus on midwifery education, regulation and also provide support to midwifery associations through advocacy and for recognition,” said Rachel Smith, a training facilitator from Burnet Institute, Australia.
UNFPA works with partners, governments and policy makers to help build competent and well-trained workforce that are well supported – especially those working in low-resource settings.
Aleinda Pinto Fernandes, a midwifery trainer from Cristal Higher Institute in Dili, Timor-Leste (Instituto Superior Cristal) noted that participating in the training will help her improve her knowledge and ability to contribute to her institution’s department of midwifery's curriculum as the school is currently preparing for accreditation from the Ministry of Education in Timor-Leste.
“I was particularly impressed by the component that addresses midwifery care based on the standards of The International Confederation of Midwives curriculum. This is a good program for midwifery educators to ensure quality of midwifery graduates in our schools,” said Sara Xavier, a midwifery trainer at Health Science Institute, Dili – Timor-Leste (Instituto Ciências Da Saude - Ics Dili).
Isabelita Madeira Soares, a midwifery trainer with over 25 year experience in training midwives from National University of Timor-Leste (Universidade Nasional Timor-Lorosa’e) stated that she was able to learn about approaches that can improve quality of midwifery training in Timor-Leste and stressed on the need to align curriculum development with international standards while recognizing different country environments.
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