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Please don’t forget the contributions of Fiji midwives
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Posted on Jan 23 2005
I wrote in this paper several weeks ago about the resignation of some Fiji midwives and it continues. Four Fiji midwives will finish work at the CHC in the next few months.
We cannot understand why Rosa Tudela is easing out these midwives, who still have the strength and good health to attend to patients. It seems like her decision smacks of discrimination and favoritism.
The NCLEX requirement was also supposed to give these midwives two chances to pass the test but a recent memorandum now gives them one chance and if they don’t pass, they’re out.
The benefits of imposing NCLEX in the Commonwealth was sought to improve the health care delivery system of the CHC.
I am all for that, but we should also take note of the importance of experience in the recruitment or retention of midwives.
Commonwealth mothers should also look back at their own experiences, particularly during their tough delivery, to better appreciate the experience and caring of Fiji midwives.
Also, I would also like to point out that the transporting of serious delivery cases to Guam and Hawaii have come to a halt. Even the transporting of expectant mothers by helicopter from Rota to Saipan has ceased. In all these cases, Fiji midwives were at the beck and call of Commonwealth mothers-to-be.
Sadly, it seems like no one is concerned about the great assistance offered by these Fiji midwives.
Even as the CHC is set to jumpstart the Guam and Hawaii transfer of serious delivery cases, and the short hop of expectant mothers from Rota to Saipan, I hope Commonwealth mothers remember the contributions of the Fiji midwives, who have assisted them the past 20 years.
The difficulty of recruiting doctors to the Commonwealth and the shortage of physicians at the CHC makes the jobs of Fiji midwives even more important. I hope the people of the islands recognize their contribution and sacrifice.
William Ziong
