The United Nations Population Fund has called for the urgent training and deployment of one million additional midwives worldwide by 2035, warning that such a move could save more than four million lives annually.
This appeal was made by ne Keita in a statement marking the International Day of the Midwife, celebrated each year on May 5. She emphasized the indispensable role midwives play in reducing preventable deaths among mothers and newborns.
Keita described midwives as critical frontline health workers who provide essential care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. According to her, access to sed midwifery services significantly improves survival rates for both women and infants.
She noted that in fragile and crisis affected regions, midwives are often the only available providers of maternal healthcare, making their role even more vital. Despite this, there remains a significant global shortage, with Africa accounting for nearly half of the deficit, a factor contributing to persistently high maternal mortality rates across the continent.
Beyond childbirth, midwives offer a wide range of services including family planning, nutrition counselling, cancer screening, and other reproductive health support. Keita stressed that investing in midwifery is not only a health priority but also an economic one, revealing that every dollar invested can yield up to sixteen dollars in social and economic returns.
Through initiatives such as the Midwifery Accelerator coalition, UNFPA is supporting countries to strengthen their health systems by developing tailored, evidence based strategies to expand midwifery services.
Keita called on governments and stakeholders to increase funding, improve working conditions, and provide career development opportunities for midwives, many of whom are women. She also advocated for the integration of modern technologies to enhance their effectiveness.
She concluded by urging global support for midwives, describing them as the backbone of resilient healthcare systems and a key to ensuring safer childbirth for all.
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