A midwifery Training Institute has been set up at Mata Kaushalya School of Nursing in Patiala commissioned by the Government of India to increase the number of natural births, and thereby decrease the C-section cases. According to the NFHS-5 survey, the C-section rate has increased to 38.5% in Punjab from 24.6%. The survey also highlighted the disparity in the number of qualified gynecologists across the state.

To resolve this crisis, 16 midwifery training institutes have been identified across the country where midwifery training will be provided to the educators, who in turn will develop- directives for setting up the cadre of Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs).  Two midwifery instructors have already been invited from New Zealand and Kenya by the state government in association with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

These trainers will educate the first batch of 30 midwifery educators in 18 months of state-level course that will start in Punjab for in-service candidates. The eligibility criteria for the selection examination are BSc and MSc Nursing with five years of experience. Dr. Areet Kaur, Director, Health and Family Welfare stated that the number of C-sections would drop with the training staff with Dr. Inderdeep, Maternal and Child Health State Programme adding that the step will ensure respectful maternity care and reduced load on a gynecologist with an increased number of natural births.

Source: The Tribune