Debbie Mpofu MAJOR

Debbie Mpofu MAJOR was the first full-time midwife in Fort McMurray arriving in January 2020. 

Debbie was born in Southern Africa and emigrated to the United Kingdom to go to University. She undertook a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health (Health Visiting). Debbie absolutely loved the multidisciplinary approach to health care within geographic boundaries by named primary health care teams. Hungry for more education, Debbie pursued her Masters in Medical Education at the University of Manchester and then capped off her studies by obtaining a PhD at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Debbie has worked in education, research and clinical practice in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Saskatchewan Canada and now Alberta. No matter how many more letters Debbie obtained after her name she always returned to clinical midwifery as she finds nothing more satisfying than walking alongside pregnant persons, supporting them through the labour and birth of their baby and continuing to offer support in the postpartum period. 

Debbie thrives on support from three amazing sons and an incredible and adventurous man by her side. Debbie’s youngest Vukie took to the ice at age three. As newcomers to Canada this was a great past time and opportunity to try to understand, the joy of heading with excitement from -25 degrees outside to a cold rink for another 2 or more hours. Despite Vukie’s mothers reservations, he proceeded to play with many amazing hockey teams such as, Saskatoon Bobcats, Triple A teams, Saskatoon Contacts, a Canadian youth hockey team heading to Europe, and an under 18 hockey team, before finally making WHL under Red Deer Rebels. Vukie proceeded to study Sports Law at UCLA before becoming a Sports Lawyer with the LA Kings and now Pittsburg Penguins. 

Debbie can only say, “Poets are the mad midwives to reality. They see not what is, nor what can be, but what must become.” Dan Simmons 

The journey to giving birth with a midwife is not always easy. Midwives offer the choice of birth place - in short hospital or home birth. We all need someone to believe in us, to be empowering and to coach us in trying what others feel is impossible. Today we are all having to move to more environmentally friendly daily living , it starts before pregnancy and birth. It starts with a midwife.