OAs part of its celebration of International Day of the Midwife, which falls on May 5th annually, Emirates Health Services (EHS) persistently integrates awareness, education, encouragement, and workplace improvements to foster interest in the midwifery profession within the community. These initiatives highlight EHS’ dedicated endeavors to advance the profession, showcase the global midwifery community's contributions, and underscore the critical care they deliver to mothers and newborns.
EHS has taken proactive steps by adopting a range of strategies and programs to promote this noble profession. These initiatives encompass the provision of high-quality training and educational programs to enhance midwives' skills, the reinforcement of their emotional and professional support, the integration of modern technology in midwifery to facilitate service delivery and enhance efficiency, as well as the encouragement of innovation, research, and involvement in studies that elevate their profession and enhance their clinical practice.
EHS has arranged diverse community events and activities to introduce the role of midwives and encourage women to utilize the services they offer. Additionally, they have enhanced cooperation with official entities and relevant organizations to support and promote the midwifery profession.
Dr. Sumaya Mohamed AlBlooshi, Director of the Nursing Department at Emirates Health Services and Chairperson of the National Committee for Nursing and Midwifery Affairs, highlighted the pivotal role of midwives in enhancing maternal and child health through targeted initiatives to enhance care for pregnant women and infants. She explained that there are various challenges confronting the midwifery profession, such as staffing shortages, professional and legal hurdles, workplace pressures, and waning interest in the field.
Dr. Sumaya added: “At Emirates Health Services, we have launched impactful initiatives to promote interest in the midwifery profession. Among them is the ‘Hello My Baby,’ initiative, which focuses on educating pregnant women about breastfeeding through an online platform offering essential guidance on hunger cues in infants, assessing breastfeeding effectiveness, and addressing common breastfeeding challenges. This initiative provides content in Arabic, English, and Urdu. Additionally, the ‘We Take Care of You at Home’ initiative plays a crucial role in enhancing maternal and infant health by offering virtual home visits for early health issue detection and necessary care provision, leading to improved health outcomes and comprehensive community care. These initiatives have garnered high praise from mothers, with 99% of participants recommending them to all mothers and expectant mothers.
As part of its comprehensive strategy to enhance healthcare, EHS prioritizes the advancement of the midwifery profession. This includes providing early and specialized care through midwives, as well as educating and empowering mothers on various aspects of maternal and child health, such as proper nutrition, breastfeeding, healthy sleep patterns, normal child development, emotional and psychological support, involvement in community health planning, and guidance on self-care practices.
Emirates Health Services is at the forefront of embracing future developments and trends in midwifery practice by leveraging digital technologies. This involves the use of health apps to track the health of mothers and children and facilitate seamless communication between midwives and patients.