By Oyesiga Devota
As a Young Midwife Leader working in one of the mountainous and remote districts of Kisoro, which is over 500km away from the capital city of Uganda, I never knew that I would get an opportunity to receive a service from The Aga Khan University. I had heard that it is an international university providing education to nurses and midwives.
My name is Oyesiga Devota, a Registered Midwife at Kisoro Hospital, located in Kisoro District, Southwestern Uganda, this is the genesis of my current beautiful story that resulted from the knowledge and skills I gained during the training that I apply daily in my practice.
At the start of 2022, through my social midwifery platforms, I came across the planned virtual Continuous Profession Development (CPD) course in Respectful Maternity Care by The Aga Khan University. This got my attention as a young passionate midwife, as it was a new concept then.
I was advised to register myself with Ms Lilian Nuwabaine, a Midwife and Women’s Health Specialist and the CPD Coordinator with The Aga Khan University. With no hesitation, I registered for a week’ course in Respectful Maternity Care (RMC), which was scheduled for 24th – 28th Jan 2022. I was eager to learn about what this new concept entails.
Even with network interruptions from Kisoro district, I was determined to take up this course. Most importantly, I learnt that Respectful Maternity Care refers to the organised care that is provided to all women in a manner that does not compromise on their confidentiality, dignity, and privacy while ensuring freedom from harm and mistreatment, as well as enabling women to make informed decisions and assuring them of continuous care from labour through to childbirth.
To me, this implied that RMC should include all maternity care services that are devoid of any form of abuse including physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Moving forward, I noted that RMC that focuses on individual, cultural, personal, and medical needs of women is vital to improving access to quality maternal healthcare
Upon attending various sessions about RMC, it was time for reflection about our practices in our different hospitals. The lead facilitator for this course and session – Ms Lilian Nuwabaine requested us to switch our videos on. No sooner had i closed my eyes than tears started rolling over my cheeks, as I reflected upon how my team and I treated our women during pregnancy, while in labour and during the postnatal period.
I recalled the multiple and different times I would be monitoring labouring mothers and whenever one would shout, I used to threaten them with words like “If you continue making noise, I will refer you”. Honestly, I had no clue that my actions were not right, neither did I know that I was being disrespectful to the mothers. Sadly, I thought that it’s how true midwifery practice should be.
The RMC training by The Aga Khan University came at the right time and raised my awareness. It taught me to be a compassionate, empathetic and empowered midwife. I learnt that disrespectful and abusive behaviors and environments degrade the quality of maternity care, thus, identifying and addressing mistreatment is an important component of cultivating RMC in our health facilities
Since then, I handle mothers with care, while prioritizing their autonomy, confidentiality and privacy, dignity. I am now a good listener, with a positive attitude. This has not only made me a changed midwife, but I am also seen by colleagues and the community as a good midwife. The RMC training gave me confidence in my work and the fellow staff recognise my potential up to being appointed as a facility Quality Improvement focal person and currently labor ward in charge, Kisoro Hospital.
Additionally, with the good work done and great output, I was selected to participate in Maternal nursing care for Uganda in China Nov, 2023. With all this, I attribute it to The Aga Khan University – CPD department, through their Coordinator, Ms Lillian Nuwabaine and team who greatly contributed to changing in my perception. I now enjoy my work as a proud and admired midwife in South Western Uganda.
I recommend this training to all Maternity health providers from various health facilities across the whole of Uganda. I pledge to continue preaching the gospel of Respectful Maternity Care everywhere I go.
The writer is a registered midwife working at Kisoro Hospital
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