Walking 20kms to your nearest health centre when you are unwell can seem an impossible task and arranging transport can be very expensive. In an emergency, poor people living far away from their nearest health centre are often faced with life-threatening situations because of the distance. If it were not for ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) who have often provided essential care to people at critical times, those life-threatening situations could have turned into a reality for many. However, despite the crucial service they provide to communities, ANMs have often struggled to be recognized and rewarded for the vital role they play. Their careers as ANMs have not always followed an upward path and have had limited opportunities for growth.
Dr. Prakasamma is the General Secretary of the Society of Midwives of India and has been a champion for midwives to get the recognition they deserve. “Auxiliary midwives are often the only trained and capable health providers at the village level. And they don’t just cover one village. They have to cover two, three, or sometimes even six villages and communities. That’s why their role is more than just serving as a birth attendant. They are the first point of contact of the health system for these communities.”
As a public health specialist, Dr. Prakasamma has worked extensively with grassroots health functionaries for 30 years, particularly ANMs, living with them and studying their role in maternal and neonatal health service delivery in remote areas. She observed their low status and low priority in the health department hierarchy and vowed to take up their cause at various fora.
The Society of Midwives of India (SOMI) held a Convention in Kolkata. And important topic on the agenda was opportunities available to ANMs for their professional growth. SOMI, a registered Society for ANMs and General Nurse Midwives, is present in over 20 states. SOMI works towards advocating for a multi-pronged career progression for ANMs and aims to be their voice to influence policy. Dr. Prakasamma addressed the convention and reiterated the importance of training ANM’s and investing in their future for healthier communities.
Madhusmita Priyadarsini, an ANM in Dhenkanal district in Orissa who has come to the aid of several village people in need, was inspired by the nurses she used to see in her childhood serving in hospital wards. Madhusmita was at the ANM convention in Kolkata and while she enjoys working with pregnant women, talking to them about the nutrients they need and visiting them for monthly checkups, she eagerly looks forward to growing in her career to making a greater difference to people’s lives. “The convention has opened my eyes to these opportunities and I have started dreaming again.” ANMs across India, including in Orissa, are working toward advancing their skills as Skilled Birth Attendants.
Many communities are in the good hands of village workers and Orissa’s investment in training ANMs is paying off. As Dr. Prakasamma says, “We need to pay more attention towards training ANMs and their career progression and make our health investments healthy.”
Auxiliary nurse/nurse-midwife: those who received education in nursing and midwifery for 1-2 years. They provide basic nursing and midwifery care. They normally have to be supervised by professional nurses/midwives.