Highlighting the significance of the midwife and nursing professionals in saving lives, State Minister for Health Murad Hasan today said the government is taking required measures to ensure quality midwifery and nursing services to the people of all strata of life in the country.

“Sufficient training, generating skilled human resources, proper
education, supplying of essential machineries and as well as equipment and
recruitment of qualified people in the sector are the prerequisites for
quality midwifery and nursing services,” said the minister.

The minister came up with the observation while addressing a programme at
Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh here in observance of the International
Midwife Day and International Nurses Day.

Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council, Department of Nursing and
Midwifery in association with World Health Organisation (WHO) organised the
event.

Additional Director General of Health Department Prof Dr Nasima Sultana,
Family Planning Department Director General Dr. Kazi Mostafa Sarwar, WHO
representative Dr Bardan Jung Rana and UNFPA Representative Bangladesh Dr Asa
Torkelssen were present, among others.

International Day of the Midwife is celebrated yearly on May 5 and this
year’s theme set by the International Confederation of Midwives is “Midwives:
defenders of women’s rights”.

Every year, International Nurses Day is observed on May 12, which is
Florence Nightingale’s birthday, and this year’s theme set by the
International Council of Nurses is “Nurses: a voice to lead, health for all.

In Bangladesh, the Directorate-General of Nursing and Midwifery and the
Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council have taken decision to observe the
both days on May 5.

Speakers said in Bangladesh, nursing has been recognized as a profession
since the times of undivided India as midwives save lives, support and
promote healthy families, and empower women and couples to choose whether,
when and how often to have children.

The profession of midwife is very critical as they also help avert
sexually transmitted infections and prevent disabilities like obstetric
fistula, mother-to-child transmission of HIV and female genital mutilation,
they said.

Currently, over 2100 of qualified midwives (including certified and
registered midwives) are serving the women of Bangladesh in upazila health
complexes and union sub centres, and 996 are still waiting for deployment,
they added.