opinion

May 5 is International Day of the Midwife.

On the occasion of the day every year, the International Confederation of Midwives promotes activities to give prominence to midwives in society and to encourage them to strive to improve medical service for pregnant women, nursing mothers and newborn babies.

The theme of International Day of the Midwife for this year is “Midwives: A vital climate solution”.

Unexpected climate change caused by the influences of global warming affects humans greatly and seriously.

Communicable diseases are breaking out in different parts of the world before the aftermath of COVID-19 that swept the world has been cleared away, and they are severely threatening the lives of expectant and nursing mothers and the newborn.

It is important to guarantee their lives with safer and scientific care to cope with climate change and the success greatly hinges on the sense of responsibility and role of midwives.

According to the UNFPA, the global temperature rise has increased pregnancy complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension and the risks of premature births and miscarriages and even endangered the lives of pregnant women.

It asserted that increasing the coverage of midwives by 25 percent up from the present could save some 2.2 million lives annually by 2035.

Different other international organizations recommend that the maternal mortality rate should be reduced to fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births and the newborn mortality to at least 12 deaths per 1 000 live births by 2030.

In the DPRK, where the state regards man as the most precious being and takes full charge and care of the people’s health, excellent measures are taken for the protection of women’s health.

Under the district doctor system that is being enforced only in the country, all pregnant women have regular checkups from doctors in charge. The number of checkups is 11, which is larger than 8, the maximum set by the WHO and UNFPA. The pregnant women with abnormal health conditions can receive all kinds of necessary medical assistance without limit.

There are the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital that all the Korean women call “our parents’ home” in Pyongyang and a maternity hospital in every province, and they provide excellent medical services to all pregnant women.

Positive efforts are also made to train midwives and improve their qualifications and abilities.

Moreover, midwives are given prominence and encouraged to do their work in a more responsible manner.

As social policies for protecting the people’s lives and improving their health increase steadily, efforts are made to consolidate the material and technical foundations of the obstetrical and gynecological sector.