Abu Dhabi’s first-of-its-kind programme to train midwives Abu Dhabi - April 28, 2014: Corniche Hospital, a SEHA HealthSystem Facility, today celebrated the graduation of the second set of its midwifery programme in association with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in Abu Dhabi. Held at Abu Dhabi’s Sheraton Hotel, the graduation ceremony felicitated ten midwifery graduates who had undertaken an 18-month midwifery programme, spearheaded by Corniche Hospital. The graduates successfully completed the post-registered nurses’ Bachelor of Applied Science in Midwifery, which is the UAE capital’s first programme produced to train midwives. As one of the major components of Corniche Hospital’s vision to be a leader in clinical education, the hospital launched the midwifery programme in 2011, in collaboration with HCT. The programme was designed to address the high demand in midwife services that the UAE is currently experiencing, and was particularly intended to attract UAE Nationals to the profession. The programme saw the first three UAE Nationals graduate in 2012. Dr. Mariam Al-Mazrouei, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer of Corniche Hospital, stated: “Corniche Hospital is very proud of our new graduates and confident that their role in the healthcare sector will have a strong impact on maternity care across the UAE.” “We also hope that the midwifery programme will encourage and attract more Emirati women to enter this profession in the years to come, as there is a dire need for Emirati midwives in the UAE. Patients prefer to be looked after by women they can relate to, someone who understands their cultural needs without explanation, and therefore it would be very valuable for more Emirati women to join the midwifery profession,” noted Dr. Al-Mazrouei. Speaking about the programme, Dr. Grace Edwards, Assistant Director of Nursing and Midwifery and Programme Lead, Corniche Hospital, said: “We are establishing a sound clinical and educational foundation by accepting only ten students per programme. The focus is on offering the highest quality education, not on quantity of graduates. Candidates for the programme are selected based on their qualifications and commitment to contributing to the highest quality, scientific care for women and their families.” Based on international standards, the midwifery programme trains local healthcare practitioners to deliver care for the next generation of women and newborns. The curriculum is approved and overseen by HCT, the Corniche Hospital, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi. During their studies, the midwifery students were employed by Corniche Hospital and placed in nursing roles best suited to their training and experience. The next batch of students will begin the midwifery programme in August 2014. Information on the course is available on the HCT website.
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