Joint Annual Performance Review 2007 - Ministry of Health

Results: Coverage (8)
• To increase coverage there is need to increase the
average number of births undertaken by each midwife,
as well as get many more midwives into practice.
• Innovative efforts will be required to recruit some of the
midwives who will be due to retire back into service
under casual labour contracts and re-deploy some
midwives, especially those currently working in nonmidwifery
areas.
• In addition, MoH may like to look at other ways of
increasing productions, possibly by approving more
training places, especially at TSMC.
• To increase the number of births that take place in a HC
however will require more than just having a health care
provider present. Attention is needed to address what is
referred to as “the enabling environment”.
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Results: Coverage (9)
• HCs need to be able to offer services 24/7, or
women will simply not use them for birth. Referral
systems need to be in place and operational,
because if women and or babies with complication
cannot be transferred quickly there is a risk that
deaths may ensue, (either in the HC or on way to
RH). If this occurs, communities will lose confidence
in the HC and in the staff that work there.
• Equally, the same will happen if the midwives do not
possess the skills to offer, not just good womenfriendly
care, but are technically competent to
recognise early signs of compilations and able to
take action to stabilize the women or baby and
make an effective referral.
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