No mother should die from childbirth, Health Minister tells midwifery graduates

A section of the graduating class

“No mother should die because they are giving birth,” Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony told the latest batch of midwives graduating from the Midwifery Training Programme on Wednesday, stressing that proper practices can prevent maternal deaths.

Delivering the feature address at the ceremony held at Pegasus Suites in Georgetown, Dr Anthony reminded graduates that midwives play a decisive role in achieving Guyana’s goal of eliminating maternal mortality. He emphasised the importance of antenatal care, early detection of high-risk pregnancies, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, breastfeeding counselling, complementary feeding guidance, and vaccination advocacy.

“So for those of you who will be working in the interior, I think this is something that you have to pay attention to. We want to work so that we can eliminate maternal mortality. We have brought it down, but we are still not comfortable with the numbers that we currently have. No mother should die because they are going through a pregnancy. And we have to work to make sure that our system can deliver on this,” he added.

Dr Anthony also highlighted the government’s introduction of waiting homes near interior hospitals, noting that the initiative has significantly reduced maternal complications by allowing mothers to await labor near clinical support.

Meanwhile, the Health Education Officer of Health Sciences Education lauded the government’s ongoing investment in midwifery education, describing it as a critical pillar of national health development. She said the strategic investment reflects a commitment to improving healthcare delivery in every region.

“The continuous recruitment of health professionals, including midwives, is essential. Through Health Sciences Education and full government scholarships, we are ensuring that Guyana builds a strong, competent workforce equipped to meet the needs of women, children, and families,” she said. She also stressed that collaboration between public, private, and regional institutions ensures students are fully prepared for the real world.