Concern for the South Shore’s midwifery services drew around 100 people to protest outside of MLA Mark Furey’s office this morning.
Families including children, babies, and pregnant women, stood outside in below freezing temperatures Monday to get the government’s attention on the current lack of midwives in the area.
But after protesting nearly an hour, Furey had still not addressed the crowds, prompting people to gather inside the office and ask him to speak.
The MLA told the group he had a meeting with a constituent that had been booked weeks before, however the demonstrators insisted, saying there were dozens of people, including children, in the cold waiting to hear from him.
Furey agreed to come out and address the protesters, which was met by cheers from the crowd.
“My intention on Wednesday is to continue to advance the concerns that have been brought to my attention today, that have percolated over the last week,” says Furey.
Furey says he will be in communication with organizers over the coming days.
“I will communicate this and advocate the importance of the midwifery program here on the South Shore with my colleagues in Halifax,” says Furey.
That promise was met with applause as well.
Kristen Martell, one of the organizers of the demonstration who met with Furey says she is cautiously hopeful about the situation.
“He said he is going to commit to being our voice and he’s going to speak to Health and Wellness to voice our concerns.”
Martell says she and her fellow organizers presented Furey with a lot of information on both the importance of the program as well as the issues the midwives themselves deal with.
There are two midwife positions for the area, however both are currently vacant, with one midwife on medical leave.
Maren Dietze, a long-time midwife and one of the founders of midwifery services as a part of the public health care system in Nova Scotia, recently moved to France.
Advocates say the midwives’ caseloads are too full and it leads to burn out.
Julie Veinot, executive director of the Lunenburg County Sexual Health Centre, was at the protest to represent the centre.
“I’d like to see more than two positions funded so that we’re not in this position all of a sudden where we have none, both for the safety and health of the midwives but also for the people they serve,” says Veinot.
A 2011 independent assessment of the program, also stated having just two positions for the area was not sustainable.
Demonstrators dispersed shortly after Furey made his statements to them.
Martell says they’ll have to wait and see what happens.
“I’m confident he’ll bring it forward, where it goes now, I don’t know yet.”
To view video of the protest, click here and here.
