London midwife who helps vulnerable homeless mothers and FGM survivors wins top award

Commended: Midwife of the Year Award Memuna Sowe with the host of the awards, Gillian Smith MBE

A midwife who helps some of the most vulnerable Londoners - including homeless mothers-to-be and victims of female genital mutilation - has been crowned the best in Britain.

Memuna Sowe, of Croydon, was named Midwife of the Year at the British Journal of Midwifery Practice Awards 2018.

She started working as a midwife in 2007 and has led a team working with at-risk women since 2015 at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust’s Rainbow Health Centre.

Ms Sowe has learned phrases in languages spoken by refugees she works with, and has even personally paid for nappies, teddy bears and clothes for babies whose mothers were unable to provide basic necessities.

Memuna, left, has paid out of her own pocket for supplies for mothers and babies

She said: “It is so good to be recognised for the work we are doing and especially work I am so passionate about - I am very honoured.

“Our team is important because women are able to recognise one person they can always come to, one team they can reach out to.

"When they have gone through trauma [like FGM] women need a safe, secure environment and to know they will have a safe birth and we help them be more relaxed… I am often the first contact they have [in the UK]. If they are over 36 weeks they have most likely had no maternity care and we provide it.

“The most heartfelt moments are when I recognise how grateful the women are for the help.”

Ms Sowe, who is in her thirties, added: “I picked up Albanian first - we get a lot of Albanian women and we have an interpreter to help every client we see. I’ve picked up little words like ‘urine’ in every language. But smiling is a universal language, and when I see that I know they are feeling supported.”

Ann Morling, director of Midwifery at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said: “We are overjoyed that Memuna has won. She and her team meet every challenge with skill and compassion.

“I hope she inspires other talented men and women to consider a career in maternity and to see how diverse and rewarding it can be.”

Another London midwife, Michelle Lynch, who is based at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, was also shortlisted for the title.

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