The government’s plan to qualify midwives after two years was criticised by the Society of Midwives of SA on Tuesday.  The society’s president, Deliwe Nyathikazi, told delegates at the start of the society’s 7th Annual Congress being held at the International Convention Centre in Durban that there were concerns at “new initiatives to downscale midwifery. The shortage of midwives has a severe impact on the health system. We need more trained midwives.”  She said the government’s “downscaling” of the training period would have a negative impact on the quality of care provided to pregnant mothers and also their newborn offspring.  Currently, a period of four years was needed to earn a midwife’s certificate, while the government was considering that the certificate be issued after two years of training.  “Without competent midwives, the future of mankind is threatened,” said Nyathikazi. Read more