The Wau Health Sciences Institute for Nursing & Midwifery in Western Bahr-el-Ghazal on Tuesday graduated 30 midwives who have been undergoing a three-year diploma course.
Speaking at the event, the institute’s principal, Jean Edward Batista, called on the new graduates to assist and support women during childbirth because many women and children lose their lives at birth.
“We are graduating them and sending them out into the community as registered midwives to assist and support mothers,” Batista said. “My message to them is this, these days people are just after money but let them not look for money, let them go and help their sisters, mothers, and brothers who need health services.”
The state minister of health, Dr. Vincent Taban Joseph, called on the partners supporting the program to continue helping to reduce infant and maternal mortality.
“All the UN agencies, the non-governmental organizations, the donors, let’s put our hands together to improve the health status of our people,” Minister Taban said.
He also urged the new graduates to use the skills they have acquired to save and improve lives.
“We want healthy and productive people in South Sudan who live dignified lives so you should improve the health of the people,” Dr. Taban said.
Some of the graduates who spoke to Radio Tamazuj during the graduation ceremony promised to help reduce the mortality rate resulting from childbirth.
“Our career is very good. It will help us to reduce maternal mortality as our mean target in South Sudan. We are going to work in the villages and in the protection of civilians’ sites to show there is quality health in South Sudan,” John Achuil, a new graduate said.
Another graduate Aldo Gok Akot, said after undergoing the three-year training, he has now become a professional in midwifery and is ready to serve the community.
“As I am going out as a full professional midwife and I am sure going to start helping the community,” said Akot.
Mary Anyang said she has chosen to be a midwife simply because she wants to help people in the village because they register high maternal mortality rates during delivery.
“Being a midwife is to improve and reduce the rate of maternal mortality and I have now gained the skills which I will use to help my people,” Anyang said.
This is the third graduating lot of registered midwives from the institute. The grandaunts comprised 10 males and 20 females.