Monday, the First Lady of the Republic, Sophia Martelly, participated in the inauguration ceremony of the National Institute of Higher Education of Midwives (INSFSF) in Cité Soleil, in the presence of Dr. Florence D. Guillaume, the Minister of Public Health, Carl Alexandre, Deputy Special Representative of the Minustah, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, Representative of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and other actors of the Haitian health system.

This inauguration was an opportunity for Dr. Guillaume to recall the various efforts of the government uin place to bring the country into line with a global movement to allow states with limited resources, to have this new category of professionals to respond to the challenges of maternal and infant mortality "The administration Martelly-Lamothe solemnly undertakes to ensure that these midwives, newly formed, are integrated into our health care system, and to ensure that they are in the plans budgeted of maternal and newborn health."

For her part, Sophia Martelly stressed the importance of this discipline "Okenn fanm pa gen dwa mouri pandan lap bay lavi! Okenn fanmi pa dwe antere pitit fi yo nan kondisyon sa ! Okenn tibebe pa dwe pedi lavi l anvan menm li te gentan jwi li!Chak moun konte, chak vi konte !"

This program whose objective is to implement a plan of development and of human resource management in maternal and newborn health and family planning will provide the most deprived health institutions in the country, with qualified staff, able to monitor the pregnancy from conception to the postnatal period and beyond.

The Minustah has provided material and technical support, including the construction of three prefabricated buildings housing four classrooms, a demonstration room, a computer lab connected to the Internet, a dormitory and a staff room.

This inauguration also brings changes in the training of midwives in Haiti.

The first change introduced two sections in the training of midwives. The section of three years, in direct entry, is intended for candidates holding the BAC. The internal section open for midwives state-certified license holders, lasts 18 months. According Renauld Grand’Pierre, Director General of the Ministry of Public Health "this change is designed in the short term, to train 600 midwives and will fill the need for qualified personnel in the Haitian maternity.

The second change relates to the content of the training. "The design of this program has been the subject of many contentious discussions among experts. It is the world's largest program implemented to support the training of midwives in developing countries," estimated Ramitz Alakbarov, the UNFPA Representative in Haiti, which provides funding.

HL/ SL/ HaïtiLibre