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Obs-Gyne Exhibition and Congress aims to keep women’s health professionals updated on latest technologies and medical advancements. (Supplied)
Emirati midwives have, in general, found the experience of practising midwifery rewarding, despite any cultural challenges they may have faced, a conference on midwifery observed on Monday.
Discussing ways to encourage midwifery engagement and leadership in the UAE at the Obs-Gyne Exhibition and Congress, experts said that as there are very few Emirati midwives in the UAE, and it is essential to develop a sustainable workforce of Emirati midwives who are capable of supporting women in a culturally sensitive and evidence based way.
Addressing the congress, Naeema Abdulla Alali, one of the first Emirati graduates from Corniche Hospital’s 18-month Bachelor of Applied Science in Midwifery programme, said it was the encouragement from her instructor, the in-charge midwife and her family that inspired her to obtain official training as a midwife
"Some of the challenges we face as Emirati midwives is that new mothers can be rather shy or more familiar with non-Emirati midwives and healthcare staff.
"They were a little hesitant at first but some have grown to appreciate that we are experts in the field and that we have an understanding of the language, culture and customs," said Alali, who is a midwife at the Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Government healthcare institutions in the UAE are collaborating with experts in the field of midwifery to endorse a shared model of care for women. "The objective is to recognise a midwife as the expert in normal birth and the obstetrician as the expert in complicated births, and reinforce the concept of team work and collaboration between all clinicians," said Dr. Grace Edwards, Assistant Director of Nursing, Clinical Programmes Manager, Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
Organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, the Obs-Gyne Exhibition and Congress is the largest gathering of obstetricians and gynaecologists in the Middle East.
The endeavour aims to keep women’s health professionals, both in the UAE and the region, updated on the latest technologies and medical advancements in the field.
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