On the 25 August 2020 the SRH Technical Advisor at the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Dr. Pilar de la corte Molina, delivered introductory remarks at a Webinar on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), with more than one hundred stakeholders in attendance. The webinar aimed to provide current information on the COVID-19 Pandemic and its application for midwives in the Caribbean. 

The webinar gave an overview of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in the COVID-19 Pandemic, explored the IPC considerations for Maternity and Community services and explored the Trinidad perspective of IPC on Maternity services.

UNFPA provides technical support for the development of midwifery in Latin America and the Caribbean in the framework of the UNFPA Global Midwifery Programme Strategy 2018-2030. The Strategy has 6 elements-education, regulation, association, midwifery work force, enabling environment and recognition of midwifery.  A focus of this support has been to strengthen national professional midwifery associations and the Caribbean Regional Midwives Association.

The COVID-19 Pandemic is stressing health systems throughout the world including the Caribbean Region.  Human and financial resources are often diverted from various health programmes to respond to the infectious disease outbreak which are being impacted by the pandemic.  Timely and effective response is critical and measures must ensure that IPC services are continued. Health workers, particularly midwives, must be prepared to provide care and support while at the same time protecting themselves during this period.

UNFPA and the Caribbean Regional Midwives Association (CRMA) are working together to produce a series of Webinars with relevant information for midwives.