NDP leadership candidate Theresa Oswald (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Lambert)
WINNIPEG — NDP leadership candidate Theresa Oswald would hire more than 20 midwives and establish a breast milk bank if elected Manitoba’s premier.
The former health minister announced Sunday a plan to provide funding to regional health authorities to hiring the midwives over the next two years, starting with 12 new permanent positions immediately at a cost of approximately $1.5 million in 2015.
“While our government has made good progress for women looking for midwifery services, there is much more to do for the hundreds and hundreds of women who still cannot find a midwife every year,” said Oswald.
New hires would come from graduates in Manitoba’s midwifery training program, recruiting from out of province and recognizing the credentials of internationally-trained midwives.
The breast milk bank would allow women to safely donate and access breast milk. Manitoba currently imports breast milk from out-of-province.
The NDP leadership conference is March 8.
