Hundreds Benefit From Health Fair Hosted By St. James Midwives
By: , May 7, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Marlon Tingling
Students of the Mount Alvernia High School in Montego Bay visit the information booth at a health fair hosted by the St. James Midwives on May 5, at Sam Sharpe Square. The event was in observance of International Midwife Day.The Facts
- The event, held at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, on Thursday (May 5), involved collaboration with the St. James Health Department.
- It was part of activities to mark International Day of the Midwife under the theme: ‘Women and Newborns: The Heart of Midwifery’.
The Full Story
Hundreds of residents of St. James received free medical checks, including blood sugar and blood pressure tests, at a health fair and exposition staged by midwives of the parish.
The event, held at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, on Thursday (May 5), involved collaboration with the St. James Health Department.
It was part of activities to mark International Day of the Midwife under the theme: ‘Women and Newborns: The Heart of Midwifery’.
The event included a blood drive, nutritional seminar, and career counselling for students. The midwives also used the occasion to raise awareness of the important role that they play in the health sector.
“Midwifery is all about… maternal and child health care including the safe delivery of babies, family planning, and nutrition,” said Midwife Supervisor for
St. James, Veronica Anderson.
She noted that the role and profile of midwives have evolved over the years, from doing home births to becoming highly trained and skilled health professionals.
“Midwives have been trained to take over and do deliveries in the community hospitals,” she pointed out.
International Day of the Midwife is an annual celebration of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM).
The day was first observed on May 5, 1992.