Editor,

Allow me to react to the article, "Midwives: Are labour wards turning into torture chambers?” (The New Times, March 12).

This makes very sad reading. I cannot imagine treating a woman in labour as awfully as described and going as far as blaming the women for their behaviour. When in pain people lose control of their faculties, so please treat them with care and understanding.

Colette Hughes

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Research shows that fear of ill treatment by maternity caregivers can be a greater deterrent to the use of skilled care than cost or distance, other widely recognised barriers.

The solution to the abuse of service providers is at hand. The Ministry of Health and its partners are taking action so that women won’t have to fear that they will be treated poorly during one of the most beautiful—and challenging—times of their lives.

Richard

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The National Councilof Midwives is to blame entirely; they sit in their comfortable offices and do not act, yet people keep reporting these cases. It is time they start doing their job, and not always keep on saying we are investigating while they are taking no action.

Tom Rwagasana