Project profile — Training Midwives in South Sudan

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: increased number of pregnant women attended by a qualified midwife or other health care professional with midwifery competencies, including emergency obstetric and newborn care; enhanced enabling environment that ensures increased availability, accessibility, and utilzation of quality skilled maternity care, including obstetrical and neonatal care services for pregnant women.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2016) include: (1) 242 health workers (of which 142 are women), including 183 midwives (of which 119 are women), have graduated from the four Health Sciences Institutes/National Health Training Institutes and are now contributing to meeting the vast needs for maternal and newborn health services across South Sudan; (2) an additional 230 midwifery and nursing students (of which 159 are women) are currently enrolled in the four Health Sciences Institutes; (3) scholarships have been provided to 33 doctors and clinical officers (of which 6 are women) for further education in obstetrics and gynecology, including emergency care and anesthesia. Upon completion, these health workers will provide specialized clinic services and quality instruction to clinical officers and medical doctors; (4) a national program for the bachelor’s degree in emergency obstetrics care was developed at the University of Juba, and 26 students (of which 4 are women) started the program in 2016; (5) skilled birth attendants (such as midwives) attended 59.1% of births that took place in health facilities; and (6) all four Health Sciences Institutes were equipped with libraries, laboratories and computer departments, along with accommodations and classrooms. These results have contributed to more pregnant women being attended by a qualified midwife or other health care professional with midwifery competencies, including emergency obstetric and newborn care; and an enabling environment that ensures increased availability, accessibility and utilization of quality skilled maternity care, including obstetrical and neonatal care services, for pregnant women.