Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again today, advocates for the prompt provision of on-the-ground midwifery services are gathering outside this Assembly to press their case. Some may join us here in the gallery yet again, to watch our proceedings and repeat the appeal for early and full introduction of midwifery service. Through petition, letter, contacts with MLAs and with the Health Minister, the NWT Citizens for Midwifery have demonstrated their broad base of support espousing the wisdom of implementing territory-wide midwifery.
The proposed budget contains limited amounts for partial introduction of midwifery services. Some funds will be used to quote and gauge communities on expanding service further, and support planning activities for Hay River.
Enough study, enough planning, enough lost opportunity for savings and benefits, enough idling. We have a 162-page Midwifery Program review and expansion analysis report of March 2012. It’s comprehensive in all things but the assessment of the cost-savings to be reaped if we stop unnecessarily flying expectant mothers out of communities for residential living, away from home, and hospital delivery.
The social and health benefits have been repeatedly stated: improve social functioning, enhanced autonomy, bringing birth closer to home, increased continuity of care, decreased stress, improved early child development, improved access to culturally appropriate care that promotes the ancestral traditions of midwifery; and the increased opportunities for health promotion and disease prevention. Regional health centres are cost-effective and the foundational basis of our community health service. Midwifery service is an indispensable element of this approach.
We’ve delivered reports and studies of the quintuplets. The March 2012 report lays out the options, the detailed implementation requirements and costs. Now it’s time to bring this baby home.
I’ll be calling for inclusion of significant sums in this year’s budget for real progress in the expansion of this service for real people.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
