« Midwives: defenders of the rights of women » was the theme of International Midwifery Day commemorated in DRC on the 9th of May under the auspices of the First Lady Ms Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI

This was an occasion for the first lady to preside over the official closure of week-long activities organized by the Congolese Association for the Practice of Midwifery (SCOSAF) with technical and financial support from UNFPA.

Activities to commemorate international midwifery day kicked off on the 4^th of May with SCOSAF supported by UNFPA to organize a health walk. This was followed on the 5^th of May by the launching of a three days’ work shop organized to build the capacity of midwifery tutors running concomitantly with integrated reproductive health outreach activities and mobile clinics installed in camp Tshatshi, IFASIC and Pakadjuma

The first lady affirmed that “it is important to efficiently and effectively regulate the midwifery profession so as to protect midwives in DRC. I shall remain sensitive and open to all suggestions that lead to the improvement of the condition of women in general and midwives in particular” 

The Representative of UNFPA in DRC Dr Sennen Hounton announced that by 2021, UNFPA will expand its support to midwifery training institutions into 7 more provinces namely Lualaba, KasaÏ, Kasaï central, Tanganyika, Tshopo, Bas-Uélé, Haut Uele bringing to 21 the number of provinces to benefit from a complete package of education, regulation and association

Ahead of the ceremony, the wife of the Head of State had the opportunity to appraise the quality of maternal health care received by women in the maternity of the Colonel Tshatshi camp. From the management of obstetric emergencies, pre and post-natal care through family planning service and the delivery ward, Mrs Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi followed with satisfaction the work of midwives in this health facility.

The first lady handed over to women who recently gave birth in that maternity delivery kits and other gifts prepared by UNFPA within the framework of her support to the national health system in a bit to improve on the conditions of mothers and their new borns

  The wife of the Head of State also visited several free service delivery points and a mobile clinic installed
in the camp Tshatshi to offer integrated reproductive health care and services including family planning to women and girls in this camp that is home to more than 20,000 people.

She was accompanied by the Minister if Gender, Family and Children, the Swedish Ambassador to DRC and the Representative of UNFPA