The Governor of Sarawak, Sir Anthony Abell, mooted the programme to train rural indigenous women to be midwives. It was critical in those days when the mortality rate of new born and new mothers were high.
In 1956, young girls were selected and some even hand picked by Sir Anthony himself, and sent to Kuching, where they were trained by doctors and senior nurses at the Kuching General Hospital for two years.
Two are now in their 80's whom I have befriended for a few years.
In the photo above, Asong Lenjau (right) and Baun (left) were the midwives who helped the young doctor Chong Choon Hian to deliver the first set of quadruplets, successfully born in Kuching to a Bidayuh mother.
These midwives trained in the Sarawak Hospital saved many lives and were totally dedicated to serving the community. Many of them were not absorbed by the Malaysian Government Medical Service but they continue to volunteer and serve their own community after Malaysia was formed.
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