By +Caroline Anande Uliwa @CarolAnande-Instagram @CarolAnande-Facebook @CarolAnande-Twitter
“A Midwife is not someone who just catches the baby, it’s someone who has undergone specified training, which is recognised at national and international levels. Who fulfils certain competencies is registered and is licensed to practice as a midwife.” Nurse & Midwife Loveluck from Tanzania.
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| Mme Loveluck Mwasha inside a lecture room at AgaKhan University in Dar es Salaam, where she teaches |
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| Loveluck Mwasha in her younger years as a Midwife in Dar es Salaam |
A mother of three she grew up in Machame, Moshi raised by a single mother (a widow) with six siblings. Despite her humble beginnings she recalls her mother’s generosity towards her community, particularly women and children. “…these children as they were going to church arrived late. The pastor then asked them, ‘why are you late, where were you?’. They all said they ‘we were helping Mama Mwema.’ He asked them ‘who is Mama Mwema?’ They gave him the description of my mom. Later the pastor came home and told my mom ‘you have inspired even these children because now they call you ‘kind mother’…” -Loveluck recalls an incident in her childhood.
She affirms that her mother’s kindness and commitment to serve, coupled with a stint when she was four years old.That saw her hospitalised for a while due to an illness, “my mom was always with me and of course the nurses were really, really good…” Cemented her fate in this caregiving profession, so in 1983 she graduated from the then Muhimbili Medical Center (today Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences) with a Diploma in Nursing & Midwifery.
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| Loveluck in her childhoold home with her siblings and neighbours after receiving her confirmation |
Straight after graduation she was deployed to Ruvu JKT-National Service, compulsory at the time. It was at their clinic where she was attached after three months of enrolment, that she helped deliver her first baby. The mother in question arrived at the clinic in the evening. There was no other Medical officer present so she had to deliver the baby herself, plus there was no electricity so they used candlelight. She recalls being nervous but quickly went to work, as she had a mother in clear distress and knew she had to calm her down. The birth was natural and went smoothly however when the baby arrived, she was hardly breathing. Loveluck had to resuscitate her and thankfully the baby responded and was soon ok.
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| Loveluck Mwasha's graduation in 1983 for her Diploma in Nursing & Midwifery from Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam |
“Five years later the mother found me by then I was back in Dar es Salaam. I was working, she traced our house, I was living with my brother and his family. When I came back from work as I walked in, the children came running saying ‘Aunty, Aunty you have a guest’.So I went inside and found this lady with her daughter of five years but I couldn’t place her… She introduced herself and said, ‘I know you will not remember me but if it were not for you this girl. This girl today would not be here. You really helped her to survive, so when I found someone who knew you I was like I must go and see her’…she brought me some cassava, a chicken. Those were the most precious gifts that someone had ever given me…”
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| Loveluck Mwasha receiving her convocation MSc in Nursing & Midwifery from AKU in Dar es Salaam |
Loveluck is currently the Vice President of TAMA-Tanzania Midwife Association. After It twenty years working as a Nurse & Midwife with a Diploma, she went back to school. To pursue a Bachelors degree in Nursing & Midwifery from the Aga Khan University in Dar es Salaam. She graduated then went back to work for five years then again went back to school. At the School of Nursing & Midwifery in Karachi, Pakistan to attain her Masters degree. She has worked in various hospitals in Dar es Salaam including Muhimbili, Hindu Mandal & Aga-Khan hospital. Where through her affiliations with agencies like ‘Tanzania Nursing & Midwifery Council’ has volunteered in many rural medical health centres, in regions like Mwanza, Mara, Bukoba and Morogoro. “We provide skills & mentorship for Nurse Midwives, who are working in reproductive health sectors. Giving on site training…” Loveluck Mwasha
As a third world country Tanzania still faces critical challenges in it’s reproductive health care. According to the African Report on Child wellbeing 2016, as of 2010-15 only 49% of pregnant women in the country gave birth with a skilled health worker present and only 15% of our babies born in the country are registered with a birth certificate as of 2016.
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| Loveluck with her three kids when they were infants & toddlers |
According to the Tanzania Health Demographic Survey (THDS) & Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics survey, our maternal mortality ratio (the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy). As of 2015/16 was 556 deaths for every 100,000 live births. The figure has slightly gone down from 2004/5 where it was 578 deaths for every 100,000 live births. This is not progress though for in 2010-12 the figures were much lower reaching the 400’s per every 100,000 live births. Whereas in neonatal deaths (death during the first 28 days of life (0-27 days) as of 1991/2 the figures were 40 deaths for every 1,000 live births. In 2015/16 its come down to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births however again the figures were lower in 2010 where it was 21 deaths per every 1,000 live births meaning we are not improving.
“Our fertility rate is 5.2 for every woman, which is quite high several health facilities in the country are not able to cope with the numbers. Bearing in mind when someone comes to a health centre they expect they will be received well, they will get dignified care. They are not going to spend hours suffering before they are given attention…but the reality on the ground is many health facilities are understaffed and lacking proper supplies. Which is demotivating for the few staff present and the patients who will be frustrated wondering what is the point of coming there.”
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| Loveluck with her newborn second child in 1989 |
Loveluck went on to ascertain that conditions like these ensure many women particularly in rural areas, resort to traditional birth attendants. Who she mentions as lacking the proper skills and equipment to cater for a pregnant woman. She however added that she doesn’t see them as the enemy. Rather as members who can be sensitised to educate the public to seek professional medical care. As she is sure they more than anyone, have met a complication during pregnancy from their patients which they couldn’t handle, that resulted in heavy losses. “Any pregnant woman is at a high health risk, because anything can happen. You have to be at a place where there is skilled attendants who are competent and on top of that have adequate supplies and materials so that they can support you…” Loveluck Mwasha
Loveluck observes other challenges in her profession include the lack of enough Higher Learning institutions, to teach upcoming nurses and midwives. She attributes this to our growing population which isn’t matched by a growth of adequate education services. Which is why she is so grateful of learning institutions like Aga Khan University, which has groomed her and where she is very happy administering the Nursing & Midwifery Undergrad courses. That are offered at the university in a special program, whch caters to working nurses & midwives, who at Diploma level are enrolled twice a week so they can attain a Degree.
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| Loveluck as a mother shortly after giving birth to her third and last born 1993 at the Aga Khan Hospital where she was working as a Manager for RM NC Health |
Loveluck added “Also being a mother is something that has really helped me because in our profession personal integrity and values are very important. Otherwise it can be difficult for you to give quality care…my children are very important to me. So whenever I am interacting with a pregnant woman especially a young one. I reflect back on my own journey. When I think of how much love I have for my children, I feel that every mom deserves to go home with their child. No woman should lose life while giving birth and no woman should lose their baby…”
It was a privilege sitting with this woman who is so passionate about women’s reproductive health through midwifery. Her contribution to the field not just as a practitioner but as a teacher is commendable. On her last note she emphasised for the publich, the importance of expectant parents to work with competent Midwives starting from pre conception, during conception and post. Highlighting that post conception care is often under emphasised and is where most maternal deaths occur with bleeding & infections like sepsis.
Article was first published in the East African Newspaper http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Loveluck-Mwasha-A-passionate-midwife/434746-4037050-anyh11/index.html
A dedicação e o amor são o elán da vida.
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