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“Treat midwifery as a separate profession”

Photo: T. Singaravelou

The National President of Society of Midwives India, Prakassama, addressing a seminar in Puducherry. —

PUDUCHERRY: It is high time that the profession of midwives was separated from nursing, National President of Society of Midwives India (SOMI) Prakassama said on Friday.

Speaking at a seminar on “Strengthening the practice of midwifery in Puducherry” here, she said it was “unfair” to consider the profession as part of nursing.

Considering the importance of the profession and the advanced level of learning it required when compared to nursing, it should be treated as a separate vocation, Dr. Prakassama said.

The seminar was organised jointly by the Puducherry Chapter of SOMI and School of Nursing, Mother Theresa Institute of Health Sciences.

Except in Commonwealth nations, all developed countries considered midwifery as a separate vocation and accorded great importance to it, Dr. Prakassama said. “It is a highly skilled area and should be given respect due to it,” she added.

Appealing to the members of SOMI to take their profession very seriously, she said the health of the baby and the mother depended much on the care given by midwives during the early stages of pregnancy.

Detailing the activities of SOMI in the Union Territory, secretary of the Puducherry Chapter E. Premila Thamizhvanan said during the last three months, it had conducted five orientation programmes for midwives in the region.

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“Treat midwifery as a separate profession”

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