Remembering: Mme Henriette Eke
- Updated 1/8/2021
Eke Henriette was the midwifery adviser for UNFPA DRC. She represented and modeled exceptional commitment to UNFPA’s mandate and made a positive impact in the area of maternal health. Henriette’s efforts led to the recognition of midwifery as a separate profession from nursing and a cornerstone for the improvement of maternal and newborn health in the country.
Henriette became a midwife because of the exceptional joy on the face of a mother when presented her baby for the first time. Henriette resolved to help many families avoid the pain that she went through after a close family relative died from complications of pregnancy. Henriette was so passionate about midwifery issues. In her words “I chose this profession to contribute to making childbirth a happy event.”
“I made a promise to pregnant mothers and myself-multiply the number of persons with my competencies and values such that all women wherever they are could benefit from quality and skilled care and services before, during and after pregnancy.”
According to Henriette, the most important qualities of midwifery are patience, availability, kindness, efficiency and discretion. Anyone aspiring to be a midwife must first love the profession and not base their decision on personal interests. Midwifery is above all a vocation. A total commitment to advance and improve RMNCAH. Without this basis, the best training will never succeed to make one a good midwife. Henriette portrayed all these in her daily actions as confirmed by her colleagues.
Henriette’s supervisor affirmed that in 2011 the national midwifery association of DRC was without active and recognized members. Today, through Henriette’s hard work and dedication and with the support of UNFPA management, the association counts more than 1,000 active members, numerous provincial committees and enjoys great visibility both inside and outside the country. Several partners join forces with UNFPA to support the midwifery profession thanks to Henriette.
One of the most recent efforts of Henriette is the bill for the regulation of the midwifery profession which is currently under study at the national assembly of the DRC. She initiated and conducted several advocacy sessions with influential parliamentarians explaining the importance and advantages of midwives, the role that midwives play in the development of the nation and how and why regulating the midwifery profession will help protect both the midwife and the community.
On the fourth of December in Kinshasa, a solemn ceremony was organized with the support of UNFPA to honor midwives and nurses within the framework of recognition of the year 2020 as the international year of the nurse and midwife decreed by WHO, Henriette’s first daughter received a medal reserved for her mother.
Henriette who died on Friday the 27th of November will be laid to rest today the 5th of December in Kinshasa. UNFPA DRC will deliver a message addressed by Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA to the family during the funeral ceremony.
Henriette’s legacy lives on. May her soul rest in perfect peace.