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Keep midwives before it’s too late
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Posted on Apr 28 2005
Several letters had been written asking to withdraw the NCLEX requirement and allow the CNMI to keep the Fiji midwives. Also a group of women formed to protest and secure the non-removal of these midwives. Even some senators have questioned why we have to lose these professional workers who have given all of their strength and knowledge in offering professional assistance to our mothers.
Despite these, nothing has been done and the Fiji midwives are still expected to leave their jobs by middle of this year. It seems like mothers are attacking mothers because most of the members of the CNMI Nursing Board are women. Why do they insist on overlooking the good work and case provided by these midwives, who are also mothers and women?
The Nursing Board makes excuses by citing the laws but this is ridiculous. Laws are made by human beings and human beings can amend these laws in order to protect the life of their own people.
Many mothers and children in the CNMI would have lost their lives during delivery where it not for the experience and skills of the Fiji midwives. May have opposed the removal of these midwives because they know how to handle difficult deliveries. We are afraid of what will happen once we lose these midwives. We are free to talk now because the sun has not set yet, but what about when everything is too late?
As previously mentioned, the CNMI saved much by employing these midwives but how about when these midwives leave? Who is going to take up the slack? In all probability, it will be the doctors who will be called to perform all delivery work. Just imagine, their rate of salaries will be very high. What is the vision or view of these Nursing board members? It won’t be easy for the present doctors to take on this new workload on top of their everyday work. Instead of helping the CNMI, this NCLEX requirement will probably result in most of these doctors also moving out.
William Ziong
Saipan
