OF COMPREHENSIVE MIDWIFERY REVIEW

Abstract

This report contains the results and recommendations from a comprehensive review of midwifery in Cambodia undertaken as an important component of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Health Sector Strategic Plan, 2003-07 (HSP), and the Health Sector Support Project, 2003-07 (HSSP). The death of a mother is not just a matter of personal family tragedy, but also constitutes a huge human and socio-economic loss to the nation. As such a high maternal mortality ratio is one of Cambodia’s most pressing health concerns to which the Ministry of Health and its development partners are committed to addressing as a priority. As made clear in the First National Midwifery Forum held in 2005, the evidence is clear that increasing access to skilled and well-trained midwives is crucial to achieving the Cambodia Millennium Development Goal 5 (CMDG5) of reducing maternal mortality. It will also contribute to reducing the numbers of neonatal deaths required to achieve the CMDG4 for child health. For the MoH, midwives are one of the critical cadres for achieving the overall improvements in health, especially in rural and hard to reach communities. Also, a