Midwives and other healthcare professionals gathered at an event hosted by Women’s Hospital (WH), a member of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), to celebrate International Day of the Midwife.

It is an annually occurring day recognised globally as part of efforts to increase awareness about midwives and midwifery.

The hospital event promoted the lifesaving work of midwives and demonstrated support for the profession with the theme “Midwives: Changing the World, One Family at a Time”.

Midwives play an essential role in healthcare in Qatar where more than 17,000 babies are born annually at WH alone, which is the nation’s busiest labour and delivery unit. In additional to delivering babies, they are also involved in antenatal and postnatal care, counselling support and education, and helping couples prepare for parenthood.

During the event, Haila Salim, WH’s assistant executive director for Nursing Services, spoke on the history of midwifery services in Qatar and highlighted the contribution of Qatari practitioners towards developing the services.

She highlighted efforts to ensure that midwifery services in the country are in accordance with best practice standards. “All midwives should be registered to practise according to Qatar standards currently under development,” she said, adding that HMC is working towards having an internationally recognised midwifery education programme in Qatar.

“Midwifery is more than a profession, it’s a passion. It’s about empowering a woman and giving her a sense of security that she needs to feel to be able to deliver her newborn without further assistance,” said Maureen Brown, WH’s assistant executive director for Midwifery, who delivered the welcome address at the celebration.

Women’s Hospital CEO Dr Nish Patel, who traced the history of the profession, said. “The guiding principle of midwifery must be woman-centred and be a partnership that respects the individuality of each woman and her family.”

According to Dr Patel, international studies show that midwife-led birthing centres provide safe and effective healthcare for women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and improve outcomes for mothers and their babies.

Other key speakers during the event were Professor David Barlow, WH chairperson of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Dr Ibrahim Arabo, WH Obstetrics consultant.

Honoured at the programme were Qatari midwives, including Najia Khamis, Soad Suliman al-Ali and Sharifa Anber al-Malki.

The event also gave an opportunity for midwives of different nationalities currently practising in Qatar to discuss international perspectives on the profession.

Midwives from WH represented Qatar, India, the Philippines, Sudan, Egypt and the UK, while Germany, Canada and the US were represented by guests from Sidra Medical and Research Centre and University of Calgary in Qatar.