Why are midwives important in family and community crises?

The 6th Midwifery Students' Symposium was organized by the Department of Midwifery of Üsküdar University's Faculty of Health Sciences as part of International Midwives' Day. The symposium, held under the theme "The Role of Midwives in Family and Community Crises," addressed topics such as crises and their effects, situations causing crises in families and communities, and crisis-causing situations in local and global contexts.

The symposium, held at the İbn-i Sina Auditorium of Üsküdar University NP Health Campus, attracted significant interest from students.

Opening speeches: a celebration of midwifery

The opening speeches were delivered by Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Üsküdar University, Prof. Güler Cimete, Head of the Midwifery Department, and Elif Çakır, a fourth-year Midwifery student and Symposium Student President.

Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin: "Midwifery is the foundation of many health disciplines"

Emphasizing that midwifery is a pioneering scientific field that forms the foundation of many health disciplines, Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin stated: "It is wonderful to see so many students, participants, guests, and professors together. It fills one with pride and clearly shows the importance given to this subject. Midwifery is one of the fundamental sciences that initiate many branches in health sciences. For example, the field of obstetrics and gynecology originally comes from midwifery. Due to this feature and its intimate nature, it is one of the most community-oriented professions."

Prof. Güler Cimete: "Midwives will lead the way in protecting global health levels"

Prof. Güler Cimete highlighted the critical role of midwives in contributing to health services, raising awareness, and developing policies during crisis situations: "A significant portion of success belongs to you, and I am confident that we will proudly complete today. I believe that by addressing major issues that can cause crises and emphasizing the role of midwives, you will create awareness. It is crucial to highlight how midwives can act as a source of strength in crisis situations."

Prof. Cimete also emphasized the importance of teaching, demonstrating, and discussing which issues are critical, raising awareness, and creating global political power.

Elif Çakır: "An invaluable event to deeply discuss the importance of midwifery"

Delivering a speech at the symposium, Elif Çakır, the fourth-year Midwifery student and Symposium Student President, stated: "We are here together at the symposium titled 'The Role of Midwives in Family and Community Crises.' This symposium is an invaluable event where we gather to deeply discuss the role, value, and importance of the midwifery profession in crises faced by families and individuals during the most challenging times for societies."

 

Eight sessions exploring crisis and midwifery

Following the opening speeches, the symposium continued with eight sessions covering various aspects of crisis and midwifery:

• Crisis Process and Crisis Intervention
   
• Poverty: Its Impact on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   
• Violence: Its Impact on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   
• Addiction: The Impact of Substance Addiction on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   
• Loss: The Impact of Pregnancy and Infant Loss on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   
• Climate Crisis: Its Impact on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   
• War and Migration Crisis: Its Impact on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   
• Natural Disasters: Their Impact on Individuals, Families, Communities, and Midwifery
   

The symposium concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and a group photo session.

Report & Photography: Elifnur Celep
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)