Vietnam faces shortage of skilled midwives in mountainous areas: reports

 

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is facing a significant shortage of skilled birth
attendants in hard-to-reach areas and a significant difference in the
competency of in regions, according to midwifery, maternal,
family planning reports.

The first-ever “National of Vietnam” and the report on
“Exploring barriers to accessing maternal and family planning services in
ethnic minority communities” were launched in Hanoi on April 24 by the Ministry
of Health, with technical and financial support from the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam.

Data in the reports reveal 94 percent of practising midwives are trained up to
the secondary level, and only 0.8 percent has a bachelor’s degree.

According to the reports, Vietnam has made substantial progress in
strengthening safe motherhood and health services for infants. However, there
are still significant differences in maternal and child healthcare between
those living in river deltas and those living in mountainous areas, with a
higher maternal mortality ratio in remote and ethnic minority areas.

Accessing quality healthcare is a basic human right, and greater investment in
midwifery is key to making this right a reality for all women everywhere, say
the reports.

Nguyen Duc Vinh, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department under the
Ministry of Health, said midwifery and midwifery practice plays a crucial role
in Vietnam’s maternal and infant healthcare system.

A skilled midwifery workforce with high competency, motivated and supported by
the healthcare system, is key to successfully reducing maternal and infant
mortality and contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by
2030, he said.

UNFPA Chief Representative in Vietnam Astrid Bant said that the UNFPA in
Vietnam is fully committed to support the ese Government and people to
ensure that all people access health care services, including the reproductive and
sexual health care.-VNA