Peggy Nash, MP for Parkdale—High Park and NDP leadership candidate, released a plan today to bring birth back to rural and remote Aboriginal communities

23 February 2012
For Immediate Release

Midwifery Needs Federal Recognition & Support: Nash

Regina / 23 February 2012 – Peggy Nash, MP for Parkdale—High Park and NDP leadership candidate, released a plan today to bring birth back to rural and remote Aboriginal communities.

“No matter who or where they are, every mother and baby in Canada deserves the best possible maternity care,” said Nash.“The Harper Conservatives’ failure to recognize and fund midwifery at the federal level has led to routine evacuation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women from reserves and remote communities,” she added.

“Access to quality maternity care close to home not only contributes to maternal and newborn health, it strengthens communities and families. “

Supported by domestic and international research on the essential role of midwives in improving maternal and newborn health, Nash’s plan will remove policy barriers to expanding midwifery services in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities while promoting a much wider role for midwives in research and policy development at the federal level.

“This is one area in which we absolutely can do better,” says Nash. “Aboriginal women and children deserve no less.”

Supporting Midwifery in Rural & Remote Aboriginal Communities:
http://peggynash.ca/2012/midwifery-needs-federal-recognition-and-support/