Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the beginning of the 16th Legislative Assembly, I
and others, as you’ve already heard today, have been raising the delivery of midwifery services throughout the NWT as a concern and an opportunity. These services continue to remain popular and provide significant value to residents of the Northwest Territories. Until recently, there have been three midwives practicing in the Northwest Territories, two in Fort Smith and one in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah.
Recently, the Minister announced that the midwifery services here in Yellowknife have been placed on hold and that a review of the services throughout the Northwest Territories is currently underway.
Mr. Speaker, the Midwifery Profession Act, proclaimed in 2005, provides for the licensing, registration, and regulation of registered midwives in the Northwest Territories. Midwives have been active intermittently in Yellowknife since 2006 and in Fort Smith for over 10 years. Midwives are health care professionals who provide low-risk women with the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour, delivery and after birth. Their care includes preventative measures, detections of complications in mother and child, and accessing further medical assistance if there is a need.
The midwife has an important role as a health counsellor, an educator, not only for the mother but also for her family and the community. Midwives may practice in any setting, such as homes, clinics or hospitals. Women in midwives’ care do not normally see a physician unless complications arise. That reduces the workload on general practitioners currently performing routine examinations on expectant mothers. Obstetricians and gynaecologists are open to the partnerships with midwives to make sure that mother and child receive quality care.
Mr. Speaker, midwifery is publicly funded in five jurisdictions, including the Northwest Territories. The province of Alberta has recently allowed insurance coverage to midwife services. Although there is growing popularity for midwives here, an increasing number of expectant mothers are being turned away due to the limited funding for midwifery programs.
Mr. Speaker, there is clear public support for midwife services here in the Northwest Territories, including here in Yellowknife. As a government, we need to take advantage of the opportunity at hand and expand the role of midwives throughout the Northwest Territories. There is a clear opportunity for us to support community and regional births and reduce the overall costs on our health care system.
Mr. Speaker, later today I’ll be asking the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services some questions on the current review being conducted by the department, and the future of midwives within Health and Social Services here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.