Public Health Midwives (PHMs) play an integral role in maternal and child health in Sri Lanka: each PHM takes care of around 3,000-5,000 people in their area, giving mothers the necessary knowledge they need to ensure their children get their scheduled vaccines.
“The use of PHMs who bring health and health education to people’s front door, means that almost all children (99.1 percent) receive their vaccinations in a timely, people-centered manner, whilst assuring high-quality standards,” states the UNICEF report Sustaining Vaccine Coverage.
Working at the grassroots level, PHMs in Sri Lanka gather and record mass amounts of data about their community and ensure that no one is left behind. PHMs are considered to be a trusted source of care, making things a bit easier, particularly for first-time mothers. “This is what I love about my job. We get to do everything we can to make a difference in a child’s life. Even if I don’t get anything in return if a child lives a happy and healthy life that is enough for me,” says Susangi-miss, a PHM in Sri Lanka caring for 5,500 people.
