Course Description
The course follows BNMC approved curriculum consisting of 40 percent theoretical and 60 percent practical. It is divided into 6 semesters which is completed in 3 years. It emphasizes proficiency in English, community engagement. After completion of the 3 years course, there is a provision of a 6 month internship.
Community Engagement
A uniqueness of the Diploma in Midwifery programme is to keep the students and midwives engaged in the community through different forms of interaction throughout the entire course. During the community visit, they identify community health problems, provide antenatal care, postnatal services to mothers, prepare class assignments, projects, and case studies based on interactions with the community. It helps Midwifery students develop insights and gather experience from the community. Community based activities increase visibility of the midwives and students and enhance community trust in them which ultimately leads towards wider acceptance of midwifery led service.
Internship
There is an internship guideline called CEGM Community Engagement of Graduate Midwives for graduate midwives. Before starting the internship, an orientation session is organized through which they follow the instructions to achieve targets of NVD, ANC, PNC and newborn care per month. They have to distribute the family planning commodities at the community or clinical site. A reporting day is compulsory to report their activities to the academic site every month, NVDs and family planning services (commodities) are verified by the faculty and senior Instructor. After successful completion of the internship, a certificate is provided by BRAC University. The internship as a process develops their skills in relation to midwifery services.
Pop up Fairs
Pop up fairs are organized monthly to advocate for the midwifery profession in the community and provide midwifery services to the women in the community. On the selected day students go to the community along with the teachers and select a place in the community. There are various stalls set up such as: ANC corner, PNC corner, FP corner, Breast examination corner. In the community the Midwife provides Antenatal Care, Postnatal Care, Newborn Care, Family Planning Services, examines the breast of the women and if any abnormality is found they refer them to a doctor. They also provide adolescence health education, hygiene and nutrition education, hand washing technique to the community.
Open School Day
Open school day is celebrated every year in all academic sites and is generally arranged to advocate midwifery education through providing midwifery services to the community women. Leading people of the community and a special guest from government officials are invited to the programme. During the open school day student students provide the essential service as well. The objective of this day is to create a professional demand in the community. In the evening a cultural programme is held where the students present jarigan, dance and educational drama to grow awareness in the community.
Faculty Development
Faculty Development has been an ongoing skill development process which takes place twice a year. Training refreshes and updates knowledge of faculties where renowned resource persons from home and abroad takes classes.
E-Learning Methodology
MEP has introduced E-Learning methodology to the midwifery students and faculty where they gather updated knowledge on midwifery and collect relevant information. They are often encouraged to access the E-Learning platforms such as “Global Health E-Learning. which offers different learning opportunities to internalize midwifery curriculum and modules. Modules related to antenatal care, emergency obstetric and newborn care, community health, patient safety, nutrition, complication during pregnancy etc. have been recommended for online based knowledge resources as an integral part of study. The faculty can refresh their knowledge and acquire certificates from the Global Health Networks. E-learning platforms like AUT Blackboard and Dropbox are used by the faculty and they are encouraged to share the essential information with students.
Demonstration Centre: Midwife-Led Care Centre (MLC)
The Midwife-Led Centre, a 24/7 maternity centre led and operated by the midwives has been established in an effort to provide quality midwifery-led respectful maternity care to the community. The centres are located in Mirpur, Dhaka, Jaintiapur, Sylhet and Dumuria, Khulna. These MLCs are promoting the alternative birth positions, pain relief exercises to ease normal vaginal delivery. These innovative endeavors have contributed to huge patient flow. This model centre enables the midwifery students to learn how to provide professional midwifery services and promote midwifery professions to the community. The services have also continued during COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. The Midwives ensure personal protection, maintain proper social distancing, hygiene and screening of body temperature of the clients before offering services. As of March 2021 a total 3348 normal deliveries has been conducted by the midwives at the MLCs, of those, 74% clients accepted the alternative birthing chair deliveries; 7564 women participated in the exercise sessions; 11479 women received ante-natal checkup and 3219 women received postnatal checkup.
