The Association made the call through its President, Mrs Netta Forson Ackon, when it launched the International Day of the Midwife (IDM) in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.

The launch was on the theme: "Midwives: Defenders of Women's Rights."

It brought together stakeholders in the health sector, from the national and regional levels including religious and traditional leaders, tutors and student nurses from the Bolgatanga Midwifery Training College, and Zuarungu Nursing Training Colleges.

Mrs Ackon said in order to successfully achieve the theme for this year's celebration, midwives were duty-bound to rise up and heed to the call to duty to protect the rights of women and girls they served.

"We need to promote and protect these rights, which can be repressed or violated by individuals, families, communities, nations or government. We need to take steps to identify these rights, which we are being called upon to defend as midwives in whatever way possible."

She said midwives could be seen to defend the rights of women if they informed them of care, referred them appropriately, request for support at the right time, and allow other professionals to see clients where the ability of the midwife ends.

Mrs Ackon indicated that if women's rights were defended, they would be alive to become productive and useful for their countries and families, and said "In an advocacy role, we can achieve this theme to a greater extent."

She noted that respectful and well-resourced midwifery care was hindered because certain basic resources and logistics midwives needed to work with, were not readily available, and therefore, proposed that in areas where there were no electricity and potable water, sunshine could be tapped and connected to mechanized boreholes to tap water, treat and store for use when needed.

The GRMA President said essential drugs and medicines must be available when needed, and noted that "Times are changing and we need to change with time, hence, our call to be defenders of women's rights."

Mrs Ackon said the desire of midwives to provide for women who come to seek care from them was defeated when they selectively had to offer care due to the fact that the "where-with-all is not there."

She said the lack of motivation to compel trained midwives to remain and practice as midwives, especially in difficult and hard to reach areas was a big challenge, and seriously affected statistics for adequate planning in the health sector.

"We call on government, partners and well-wishes to support us to overcome these barriers. By that we will be able to achieve our theme of celebrating midwives in our country which in turn will enable us match up with other midwives in this global village."

Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, in a speech read on his behalf said the Ministry of Health valued the contributions of midwives in providing safe, accessible and round-the-clock care for families across the country, and would continue to create the enabling environment for all midwives to function effectively and efficiently.

He said the Ministry would continue to ensure that midwives in Ghana were well motivated to continue with their good work.

"It is in this vein that the Ministry in collaboration with the UNFPA, annually, awards best practicing midwives from the Regions and Teaching Hospitals."

Photo of Mrs Netta Forson Ackon, President of the GRMA delivering her speech at the launch