More funding is being sought by maternity care consumers across northern Alberta.
According to a press release, several groups are working together to ask Alberta Health Services (AHS) to provide more midwifery services in the north.
Photo Courtesy of BMPP Website.
At this point, there are only three midwives operating in AHS’ North Zone. The groups say that if services are to be equitable in northern Alberta, at least 10 should be practicing in this zone.
While each group acknowledges the fundamental challenge in getting funding for such services, they still want equitable access for midwifery services across the province.
“We are asking AHS and the Ministry of Health to develop a strategy to address the unique challenges we face,” Rebecca Edwards Rabiey, the Chairperson for Birth Matters for Peace Parents (BMPP), said in the release.
The Chairperson of the Wood Buffalo Woman & Baby Care Association (WBWBCA), Jennifer Stephenson, echoes those sentiments.
“Our community has one of the highest birth rates in the province,” said Stephenson. “It’s difficult to recruit specialized care to the northern, and it results in a shortage of obstetrical services.”
Stephenson says it causes long wait times for expectant mothers for access to obstetrician offices, giving them little choice than to look outside of the region for care.
“There’s significant public demand for midwifery services in our region,” she continued. “It’d allow families to have a choice of who their care provider is, instead of having to travel for options.”
– Posted by BET
