Greetings to the great people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that Nurses and Midwives put their health in jeopardy for our well-being. They deserve a big Thank You. Our topic today is in commemoration of the International Midwives Day, coming up on 5th May.
We join all Midwives to celebrate the many ways that midwives defend, protect and stand up for the rights of women, girls and midwives around the world. This year’s theme, ‘Midwives: Defenders of Women’s Rights’ is significant in highlighting the vital role that midwives play in protecting the rights of women, girls and midwives by ensuring that they can exercise their full human rights, particularly their reproductive and sexual health rights in their communities and countries of practice.
According to global statistics, it is noted that approximately 350 000 women are dying every year due to pregnancy hazards or during child birth, around 2 million newborns babies are dying just after their birth or within 24 hours of birth and around 2.6 million of the cases are stillbirths. Such death rates can be lessened and prevented by supporting Midwives in applying some precautions and safety measures to pregnant women and new born babies.
All over the world, millions of women, girls, men and boys stand up and defend the rights of women and girls globally. More women are standing for political office than any time in history. Africa is leading the way with Ethiopia recently ushering in the most gender balanced cabinet in the world, and Somalia banning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Iceland has made the gender pay gap illegal, just to mention a few.
Today, we celebrate:
• The midwives fighting patriarchy, in countries, facilities and communities worldwide.
• The midwives that are part of each community and neighbourhood, that have pushed back against inequality.
• The midwives who stand up for the rights of women to receive respectful maternity care.
• The midwives who have supported pregnant women who are suffering from abuse and cannot return home.
• The midwives that say no to performing Female Genital Mutilation.
• The midwives that have held perpetrators of rape and violence accountable, despite fear of the ramifications.
• The midwives that continue to hold the torch for gender equality and defend women and girls.
This celebration is also an opportunity to highlight the right for a midwife to practice in a safe and enabling environment. Midwives should be free from harm going to work, at work and in their homes. We want to thank and celebrate you, the midwives who have continued to fight, protect and defend women, girls and midwives’ rights, no matter the circumstance and consequence. Thank you. We see you and we will continue to celebrate your work.
Let us listen to our guest speaker give more insight on the topic. She is Mrs. Peace Daisy Ejiks-Nwikiri, Director of Nursing in Rivers State.
Our kind and loving Rivers people, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.
God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State.
Her Excellency,
Hon. Justice Mrs. Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike,
The Wife of His Excellency,
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON. GSSRS. POS (Africa),
The Governor of Rivers State.
You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below