“I have always wanted to serve my neighbor. I have seen violence against women. So I told myself that by being a midwife and with a training in law, I could fight and eliminate violence against patients. This is my fight. I have witnessed several times in the context of my profession different types of verbal and social violence against women: estrangement from the family that is forbidden to access the delivery room, the thighs of the woman and forcibly dismissed, “financial” violence through ransomings, illicit sales of drugs, exorbitant prescriptions, unnecessary paramedical check-ups. These are common practices against which we fight through awareness raising, training, radio broadcasts, role plays. In order to improve the situation, I list the difficulties and I make suggestions. Violence creates the first delays in treatment.

There is still so much to improve: supportive supervision of peers; transmission from an experienced midwife to a young midwife; popularization and awareness of patient rights; continuous training of all midwives in activities. I advocate the concept of humanized childbirth. I require 40 min consultations instead of 10 min. in order to be able to interact with the woman and take charge of her as a whole, prepare her as best as possible from birth to parenthood. I recommend that the consultation take place in the presence of the husband if he is there and the wife agrees. “

©Sophie Garcia / UNICEF