The number of women turning to midwives for a natural birth and care for infants and mothers is on the rise, with 170 recorded in September compared to 130 in August.
Health Minister Michael Damianos told a press conference on Friday that this new service, in the framework of the state health services (Okypy), aimed at enhancing preventive care and supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
He said community midwifery would bring midwives closer to home, providing personalised services to meet individual women’s needs and promoting confident motherhood.
One of the challenges, Damianos said, was incorporating this new service into the existing health system. To this end, he called on all medical professionals to support this new service so that mothers and their newborns can receive the care they need.
Okypy CEO Kypros Stavrides said the service started on July 1 as a pilot programme for all women in the national health scheme (Gesy) and was put into full motion on September 1.
So far, women have embraced the new service, with 130 visits recorded in July and August, rising to 1,702 in September.
Community midwifery, Stavrides said, aims at safeguarding the health of mothers and their newborns, through proper communication and respect to diversity, culture, values and beliefs, thus contributing to healthier families, productive communities and a stronger health system.
The service includes consultations, information and the promotion of natural childbirth and breastfeeding, timely diagnosis of any complications, treating emergency cases and perinatal care in the community.
At-home midwifery and maternity care will also be provided, including isolated areas.
Stavrides said the service is staffed with seven midwives across Cyprus, with plans to increase their number due to higher demand.
Coordinator of community midwifery Maria Panayiotou said midwives were an autonomous provided in the health system and women had direct access to midwives during pregnancy and postpartum with a total of six visits.
This, Panayiotou said, contributed to securing the best health indices for women, newborns and the whole family, by providing personalised care, even at home.
