About 16 midwives graduated from the Wau Health Science Institute for Nursing & Midwifery college on Tuesday after three years of study.

The graduates including 10 women and 6 men form part of the first batch of diploma graduates at the institute established three years ago.

Jane Edward, the director of the institute said the training is intended to reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health in the state.

She said the new graduates will help improve the provision of health services to pregnant women, children and the public at large.

However, she acknowledged that they still need more midwives to be able to cater to the needs of women across the state.

On Tuesday, the national ministry graduated about 66 midwifery and nursing students including men in the fight against maternal mortality in the country.