Nurse Midwife Linancy Gondwe Named Best Midwife on International Day of Midwife

Nkhata Bay, Malawi - Linancy Gondwe has been awarded the title of Best Midwife in Nkhata Bay District, writes Tionge Hara.

The award, presented on the International Day of the Midwife, May 5th, recognizes the vital role midwives play in ensuring the health of pregnant women, mothers, and babies.

Gondwe, a senior nurse midwife technician at Nthungwa Health Center, has been a nurse midwife for 27 years.

She has delivered over 2,000 babies since 1995, including 768 deliveries at Nthungwa alone.

"I have never witnessed a mother die in my hands since I started working," Gondwe said.

"I am passionate about providing midwifery care to clients and ensuring their safety and well-being."

The selection of the best midwife in the Nkhata Bay District is done by fellow nurses.

Kate Ruth Phiri, the Senior Nursing and Midwifery Officer, explained why Gondwe was chosen for the honour.

"Gondwe was chosen the best because she is very hardworking, organized, and she does not compromise on patient care," Phiri said.

"Her labour ward at Nthungwa Health Center is clean and organized, and she relates well with colleagues at the hospital as well as the community. She also facilitated the lobbying of solar electricity at the facility as they used to use torches for lighting."

Other midwives are encouraged to follow in Gondwe's footsteps by maintaining professionalism and passion for the profession.

"This job requires passion, commitment, resilience, and competence to bring about good outcomes that benefit all," Phiri added.

The Nkhatabay District has a population projection of 304,556, and there are 19 health centres and six dispensaries in the district.

The International Day of the Midwife is a day to honour the work of midwives and their associations to create meaningful change for the midwifery profession and the women and families they care for.