[International Exchange Center] Taiwanese and Japanese midwives deepen ties in education and practice at the Osaka Campus

On March 28, eight midwives from Taiwan (Professor of National Taipei University and members of The National Union of Midwives Association, Taiwan) visited our Otemae Campus in Osaka.
In Taiwan, midwifery education had been discontinued for 10 years since 1991, and neither society nor doctors are aware of the existence of midwives. Midwifery education has resumed, but there are only a few midwifery practitioners and there is no need for them in hospitals.
During the training on the 28th, Tomimatsu Professor of Faculty of Global Nursing gave a lecture on the current state of perinatal care in Japan. In addition, Graduate School of Global Nursing Science Director Suzui Professor gave a lecture on the history and current state of midwifery in Japan, providing a good opportunity for both sides to learn from each other, including an enthusiastic question-and-answer session.
Next, Associate Professor from National Taipei University gave a lecture on midwifery education in Taiwan, and the former president of the National Union of Midwives Association, Taiwan gave a lecture on the current state of maternal and child health care and midwifery practice in Taiwan, both of which were filled with midwives' passion. The lectures were filled with the passion of midwives.
The graduate students were very interested in talking with the Taiwanese midwives and enjoyed the exchange of information about the social culture as well as the reality of midwifery in each country.
Since it was also the first day of the Faculty of Global Nursing kick-off program for new first-year students, the Taiwanese midwives gave a strong message of welcome and congratulations on their choice to become nurses, and the new first-year students also had the opportunity to surprise them by introducing themselves in English.
Upon request from the Taiwanese midwives, we coordinated a tour of hospitals, clinics, and midwifery centers, as well as exchanges with community midwives, and continued energetically the next day.
We believe that this visit to our university was a fruitful opportunity for face-to-face international exchange and for sharing our professional philosophies and practices.

We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to those affected by the earthquake that occurred off the eastern coast of Taiwan on April 3rd, and we pray for a speedy recovery.

(Source: Osaka Campus International Exchange Center)