The north-côtières pregnant still deprived of midwives

The project to create the first midwives on the North Shore, in gestation for about 20 years, is still far from succeeding. On this international day of midwives, organizations deplore their absence in the region.

According to organizations and stakeholders, the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of the Côte-Nord planned to create a service in Sept-Îles.

In 2023, the Cisss Nord-Côtier assured, moreover, having taken steps to set up a pilot project in the region.

Also according to organizations, in recent years, the Cisss de la Côte-Nord has opened a project manager to develop the initiative. However, it was never provided.

The post display was removed, but has never been deliveredIndicates the coordinator for the Port-Cartier sector of the organization at the source, Tania Bond.

According to the group, the midwives of Quebec, discussions surrounding the creation of the Septilian service recently slowed down.

In the opinion of the organization, the freezing of these investments seems to be linked to the ongoing budgetary compressions to the Government of Quebec.

I find it difficult that militants, citizens and families must mobilize voluntarily, for decades, to be able to obtain midwifery servicesdeclares the president of the Grouping Les Métages du Québec, Amaili Jetté.

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All the evidence is there to [démontrer] that these investments are important for communitiesshe adds.

Midwives raise their hands

The organization at La Source says it has received calls from midwives and students who are ready to come and work in the region.

[Par exemple]I have a student in midwife who asked me to keep her informed since she wanted to return to Sept-Îles to work there. But, it is not me who takes care of the hiresargues Tania Bond.

Pending the creation of north-co-mid-mid-female posts, Ms. Bond is of the opinion that many families choose to live elsewhere.

We also have families who have decided to move outside the region for birth [de leurs enfants]she notes.

People who leave the region for births are those who are in good financial posture. Again, it is vulnerable people who do not have access to the service.

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Families how to be out of breath to have these difficulties of access to servicesshe adds.

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Carol-Ann Boudreault, an accompanist at birth who collaborates with the Maison des Familles de Baie-Comeau, believes that the Quebec government would pay cheaper with northern midwifery services.

It is really deplorable that we slow down midwives service projects due to budgetary compressions. What must be understood is that the cost of monitoring for a couple who will give birth under the care of a midwife, in birth house, is really less for the duration of the follow-upshe says.

On the North Shore, there is nothing available on the side of midwives. There are no midwives who practice here. There is no project in motion. Here we have nothing.

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For its part, Santé Québec said he continued to develop midwives for each of the Quebec regions.

It is true that several factors [dont ceux liés à] real estate [et à la] staff shortage impact the development of midwives servicesdeclares in writing Santé Québec.

Health and social services operations having been transferred from Msss Towards Santé Québec a few months ago, we are planning our next actions for midwives.

We will tell you more once our plan well campedAdds Santé Québec.

Elsewhere in the province, midwives generally offer care during pregnancy, during childbirth and a few weeks after birth.

With the collaboration of Fannie Bussières McNicoll