Human Resources for Health in Maternal, Neonatal and - HRH ...

services. Studies clearly show that, in community areas, nurses, midwives, community health
workers and volunteers are taking on many responsibilities beyond their skill level and
without legal support. Shifting tasks to community health workers involves the consideration
of regulatory issues such as the scope of practice, standard of care, training, licensure, and
supervision. Additionally, political buy-in and commitment from the Ministry of Health,
medical universities, and professional councils and associations are necessary for long-term
development (Frehywot 2010). Improving the skills and legalizing the practice will improve
the provision of health services in remote and rural areas. (Rokx 2009). TBAs are often not
recognised one exception is in Samoa where TBAs work closely with nurses and midwives
and are legally recognized as allied health workers (WHO 2008).
Ethical standards
The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has produced documents that define
who a midwife is and with how midwives relate to others; how they practise midwifery; how
they uphold professional responsibilities and duties; and how they are to work to assure the
integrity of the profession of midwifery.
FHI have produced a code of ethics for PHEs (Family Health International 2005) however
there is no evidence of these being applied in programmes. These ethics cover the following
areas:
Respect, promote, and protect human rights.
Show cultural sensitivity.
Respect diversity.
Promote gender equality and equity.
Assure and protect confidentiality.
Promote self-examination of values; do not impose values.
Avoid personal misrepresentation, while respecting disclosure boundaries.
Provide updated, correct, and unbiased information.
Be aware of individual limits and how behaviour affects peers.
Refrain from abusing one‘s position with peers or the peer education programme.
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