INDONESIA

Dangerous Low Number of Midwives in Burma

Dangerous Low Number of Midwives in Burma

Burma government’s health ministry has admitted that the country needs a significant number of midwives.

Senior health officials recently said a mere ten thousand midwives are employed for sixty thousands villages.

Mother of six, Ma Thein Tin had to give birth to her youngest child without the help of a midwife.

“The midwives are travelling to Kawa - a nearby town.”

3000 people live in San San Lwin village and the midwife has to travel to other villages in the region too.

A few years ago there was a tragedy, says 61-year-old Nyut Ye, unofficial midwife from the village.

“The midwife was on duty in neighbouring village. We were waiting for her at home. I had just finished my lunch there. The mother said she wanted to go to the toilet and went outside. And on her return, the water did break.”

Nyunt Ye doesn’t have formal midwifery training but often helps assist births around the village.

“The nurse was delayed. The mother couldn’t bear it at all and asked me to help her delivery. I helped and the baby girl was born. Unfortunately the baby was already dead.”

For many, giving birth in hospital is not an option as they are too expensive.

Ma Thein Tin’s eldest daughter had to borrow 200 dollars.

21-year-old Thandar Oo is now a mother of a 9-month-old baby girl.

“Even I sold all my things including a pair earring; I still had to borrow 70 US dollars. Now I have returned only 30 US dollars.”

While 39-year-old Ma Aye Shwe is now 5 months pregnant.

“Many people are talking about how expensive in the hospital. I am really disturbed with that. So I say I would give birth the baby at home.”

The government spends just 4% of its budget on the health sector.

Health care activist Dr Myo Myint says this needs to increase.

“How much money from natural resources, how much of a percentage from tax will go to the health sector? Of course, this kind of system would be possible even though it will take time.”

The government needs to take serious action to address the state of the healthcare sector.

Until that happens, women like Aye Aye Aung, who is now 8 months pregnant, will continue to put at risk from complications after birth.

“I do not want our midwife to go somewhere else. If she goes somewhere else, who will help us?”



  • Burma
  • Myanmar
  • Midwives
  • health
  • DVB

Komentar (0)

KBR percaya pembaca situs ini adalah orang-orang yang cerdas dan terpelajar. Karena itu mari kita gunakan kata-kata yang santun di dalam kolom komentar ini. Kalimat yang sopan, menjauhi prasangka SARA (suku, agama, ras dan antargolongan), pasti akan lebih didengar. Yuk, kita praktikkan!