Desirable, achievable, but not easy: The midwife role in Kalongo Pader

There is little knowledge or understanding of the role of the midwife operating in Kalongo Pader, Northern Uganda: the rural area on which this article focuses. The midwife role has been very poorly documented, although the scale of the task is huge. Twenty years of insecurity have fortunately not lessened the commitment of these multi-skilled professionals to the care of mothers and infants in this very difficult area. The midwife role is unique in offering care and treatment throughout the birth process. In this article these comprehensive skills are described: midwives fulfil the role of teacher, technician, counsellor and a resource for colleagues and collaborate with a skilled medical team. The midwife provides a crucial bridge between the community and other service providers. The author is a midwife tutor with nine years experience of teaching midwifery skills that are focused on training students with the vision to serve in the most difficult environment and to promote integrated reproductive health care and client-provider interactions.