Toyin Saraki hails midwifery professionals as the world marks International Day of the Midwife 2020; Launches ‘We Must Applaud Midwives with WASH’ campaign

Toyin Saraki has hailed International Day of the Midwife, marked today around the globe, as “the most momentous day in a century for midwives.” Saraki, who is Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has marked the day by paying tribute to midwives around the world and by launching a new campaign to improve the safety of their working conditions.

Saraki commented: “2020’s International Day of The Midwife is remarkable in many respects – and is truly momentous, as it takes place in the first ever Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. This year has been designated by the World Health Organization as a year-long effort to celebrate the work of midwives and their colleagues, highlight the challenging conditions they often face, and advocate for increased investments in the workforce.”

“While we celebrate the work of midwives, this is also a solemn day, as we pay tribute to midwives who have lost their lives in the course of their duties, not only during the current COVID-19 crisis but also those in recent years who have paid the ultimate price in conflict areas. Whatever the circumstances, however dangerous, midwives continue to provide a continuum of care, standing beside women at their most vulnerable moments. I know that I will have many midwives, including close friends, in my prayers today.”

“Infection prevention and control is at the top of the global agenda right now. Midwives have led on this since 1840 – if not before – when physician Ignaz Semmelweis worked with midwives to promote water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) on maternity wards. I am therefore proud today to launch the ‘We Must Applaud Midwives with WASH’ campaign, to highlight that whilst we should applaud midwives we also need to ensure that they have the conditions they need to work safely and deliver for women, babies and communities. WASH plays a vital role in stopping disease transmission yet two out of five healthcare facilities still lack hand hygiene facilities at points of care. I am promoting ten immediate actions which should take place in all healthcare facilities to respond to COVID-19 and protect midwives, their colleagues and patients.”

“Midwives are champions of women’s rights; but can only be effective if their rights are also secure. This includes the right for every midwife—and all health workers—to decent work and a safe and dignified workplace. Saving lives does not mean a midwife should risk her own. I continue to advocate for whole-system support, which means providing midwives with
the adequate tools, equipment, and medicine to provide the full scope of timely, high-quality care, and the capacity to carry out the WHO-recommended 8 antenatal visits. We should all take up the call of the International Confederation of Midwives to celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise and unite with midwives.”

Toyin Saraki is also Special Advisor to the World Health Organization Independent Advisory Group to the Regional Office for Africa, a member of the Concordia Leadership Council and was named by Devex as ‘Global Health for All Champion.

Toyin Saraki is promoting the following ten Immediate WASH Actions in Healthcare facilities to Respond to COVID-19:

1. Handwashing: Set up handwashing facilities, like a bucket with a tap with soap, throughout the facility. Prioritise the facility entrance, points of care and toilets, as well as patient waiting areas (and other places where patients congregate). If the facility is piped, repair any broken taps, sinks or pipes.

2. Water Storage: Consider the water requirements to perform WASH/IPC activities with an increased patient load. If inconsistent or inadequate water supply is a concern, increase the water storage capacity of the facility, such as by installing 10,000L plastic storage tanks.

3. Supplies: Solidify supply chains for consumable resources, including: soap (bar or liquid), drying towels, hand sanitiser and disinfectant. Ensure cleaners have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cleaning. If ingredients are available locally, produce hand sanitiser at the facility (or at district-level) – see WHO protocols.

4. Cleaning & Disinfecting: Review daily protocols, verifying based on national guidelines or global recommendations for resource-limited settings and noting additional levels and frequency of cleaning in clinical areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, including terminal cleaning. Ensure adequate supplies of cleaning fluids and equipment, making allowance for additional cleaning requirements. Ensure handwashing stations and toilet facilities are cleaned frequently.

5. Healthcare Waste Management: Strengthen healthcare waste management protocols by making sure bins are located at all points of care, that they are routinely emptied, and waste is stored safely.

6. Staff Focal Points: Assign staff member(s) – cleaners, maintenance staff, or clinicians — whose job it is to oversee WASH at the facility, including: refilling handwashing stations, auditing availability of supplies in wards, reporting on WASH maintenance issues,

monitoring cleaning and handwashing behaviours of staff and communicating updates to the director daily.

7. Training: Organise training for all staff on WASH as it relates to their role at the facility, including a specific training for cleaners based on the protocols reviewed above.

8. Daily Reminders: Remind staff of WASH protocols during morning meetings. Post hygiene promotion materials throughout the facility, particularly next to handwashing facilities.

9. Hygiene Culture: Encourage a culture of hygiene at the facility. Emphasise that all staff members, including cleaners and maintenance staff, are part of a team working to prevent the spread of infection. Recognise individual WASH champions in the HCF.

10. IPC Team: Work with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team at the facility to make sure efforts are reinforced and aligned, avoiding duplication. Encourage WASH focal points/partners to participate in IPC meetings. Coordinate WASH/IPC activities based on plans to isolate COVID-19 patients. More on International Day of the Midwife can be