The Department of Health’s Jane Crookall Maternity Unit midwives held a cake sale on 4th May at the Staff Restaurant of Noble’s Hospital, to celebrate International Day of the Midwife and to raise money for Save the Children, in particular the Isle of Man branch, which sponsors a maternity unit in Rwanda, Africa.
Jane Sloane, Head of Midwifery at Noble’s Hospital said: “This is our way of celebrating International Day of the Midwife on 5th May and drawing awareness to the preventable issue of maternal mortality. Worldwide, it is also being marked with walks, street parades and other activities. We are pleased to have raised ?600 for a very important cause. Thank you to all the staff at Noble’s Hospital who supported us.”
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, attending the cake sale, said: “I would like to congratulate the midwives of the Jane Crookall Maternity Unit for raising awareness of maternal mortality through this fundraising event for the Isle of Man branch of Save the Children. We are fortunate in the Isle of Man to have links with charities providing support all over the world and it is very gratifying to mark International Day of the Midwife in this way.”
Bev Critchlow, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Therapies said: “The International Day of the Midwife is a celebration of the work of midwives all over the world. At Noble's Hospital, we want to demonstrate our commitment to tackling maternal and newborn mortality by raising money and awareness for midwives and mothers everywhere. I am so proud of what our midwives have achieved today.”
Since 1991, the International Day of the Midwife on 5th May has provided an annual focal point for midwives, midwifery associations and partners around the world, celebrating midwifery and to bringing awareness of the importance of midwives' work to as many people as possible. It helps raise awareness of midwifery and extend the influence of midwives in order to lobby and advocate for policy changes relating to maternal, newborn and reproductive healthcare nationally and internationally.
Over 340,000 women die each year, with millions more suffering infection and disability, because of preventable maternal illness during or around the time of childbirth. The International Congress of Midwives is committed to reducing inequality, through greater access to essential midwifery care worldwide, particularly in developing countries where 90% of maternal deaths occur. The team of midwives in the Isle of Man wanted to play their part.
Rosemary Walters, Vice President of the Isle of Man branch of Save the Children, echoing the theme of the International Congress of Midwives, said: “The world needs midwives today more than ever. Access to essential midwifery services reduces maternal and infant mortality helping to reduce the cycle of poverty in developing countries. The message of Save the Children is ‘no child born to die’ and we want to see mothers and babies getting the support they need through increased global and local commitment to midwifery services. I am extremely grateful to the midwives of Noble's Hospital for holding the cake sale and to all the staff for making such a special donation towards our Rwanda project.”
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