Educating Inuit midwives in Puvirnituq
Puvirnituq’s Inuulitsivik Health Centre has six Inuit midwife students on staff, pictured here on Jan. 15. From left, they are Alscule Novalinga, Caroline Ivilla, Patsy Amittu, Elisapi Tukalak, Mina Surusila and Lizzie Qumaluk. Midwives have been serving patients and training new midwives in Puvirnituq since 1986. In 2008, Quebec’s Ministry of Health and the Order of Quebec Midwives recognized the Inuulitisivik Midwifery Education Program, allowing it to fully licence graduates. (Photo by Vicky Tukalak)
Nice to see new faces. I hope these members answer telephone calls when on-call, Inuulitsivik had lousy service before when women in labor never got response when calling emergency number. Many babies were born in transit homes and wards at the hospital.