Foundation launches midwife training programme
The Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Aids Foundation (EGPAF) has launched a three-year training programme for midwife technicians to address health care worker shortages in the country.
The new programme started last week by enrolling 21 students drawn from the country’s rural areas to become nurse-midwife technicians.
EGPAF country director Nicole Buono said the programme will help address the critical shortage of healthcare workers in Malawi by providing quality HIV and other health services to rural communities.
“In rural areas there are few frontline health-care workers available to provide adequate HIV services. EGPAF is pleased to help address this serious gap in human resources for health through this new programme,” said Buono.
The programme — funded by the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention through United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief — is implemented in close collaboration with Ministry of Health.
After graduating, the workers will have to serve in remote communities for a minimum of five years with the hope that this arrangement will improve staff retention in hard-to-reach health centres.
