There is an average of 200 vacancies for qualified midwives in the public health system and UWI is now in a position to help rectify that gap.
UWI’s School of Nursing has a new full-time, two-year BSc Midwifery programme which is scheduled to begin in September 2022. It was developed to meet the needs of the Ministry of Health because of the lack of qualified midwives in the six public health institutions offering maternity services.
Dr Oscar Ocho, director of School of Nursing told Sunday Newsday, in the short term, the programme would only be offered to people licensed or registered with the nursing council of their country, and who has a minimum of three years nursing experience.
“In looking at the International Confederation of Midwives, their standard for what a midwife should be, as it relates to qualifications, is at the bachelors level. Therefore we have developed a curriculum that will allow for a registered nurse (RN), a registered mental nurse or a midwife who wishes to qualify at the degree level to be able to complete this programme in a period of two years.”
In year one, students would do both theory and clinical experience simultaneously, focussing on the normal processes of conception, growth and development of a foetus. In year two, complications and challenges to pregnancy would be introduced, as well as an understanding of their role and the importance of collaborating with the obstetrician.
Although not yet available, a four-year midwifery programme has been developed and approved.
Ocho said the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses Programme does not cover the midwifery programme at the moment but UWI is in the process of applying for GATE. Still, so far, 29 applications were received, including one from Guyana and one from St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“The persons who have applied are committed to pay, which shows that people are very interested in their professional development so that they could be better and more competent practitioners.”
Previously, midwifery education was only available through the Ministry of Education, a certificate programme at Schools of Nursing and Midwifery at the Port of Spain and San Fernando General Hospitals, as well as an advanced diploma from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of TT.
He said the programme caters for 25 students to ensure quality instruction and the opportunity for clinical practice. But, since it is the programme’s first year and the class is not significantly oversubscribed, all 29 may be accepted.
“Our aim is to develop competent clinicians who can be able to provide a high quality of care at all levels of the continuum for clients, including the family.”
The TT Registered Nurses Association told Sunday Newsday there are approximately 1,500 registered midwives (but not necessarily practising in TT), three of whom are male.
Asked why he believes there are so few men in the practice, Ocho said in his 41 years in the nursing profession, midwifery was seen as a specialised area and midwives guard
