New York: Midwives are vital frontline workers who can provide up to 90 percent of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health services-from safely delivering babies to caring for survivors of sexual violence. But despite their critical role, UN support for midwifery is under serious threat due to severe funding cuts.
According to United Nations, each year, three-quarters of all maternal deaths occur in just 25 countries, the majority of them located in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In times of crisis, women often lose critical access to vital maternity services. Coming to the rescue in the direst of circumstances and serving as a lifeline to pregnant women, midwives save lives, said Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA.
UN support for midwives in humanitarian settings includes training, providing supplies and equipment, and in some cases, transportation for mobile health clinics. All this is having to be cut back amid the funding cuts. When crises strike and systems break down,
midwives step up, said UNFPA, marking International Day of the Midwife.
Amid a global shortage of nearly one million midwives, rising death rates among women and newborns in conflict zones and fragile contexts are now being reported following budget cuts. ‘We’re lacking everything, from blood bags to medicines. With the support of UNFPA and other partners, we can still provide services-but for how long?’ said Fabrice Bishenge, Director of Kyeshero General Hospital in eastern DR Congo.
Deaths during childbirth in fragile and conflict-affected settings now account for 60 percent of all maternal deaths globally. Worldwide, deep funding cuts only exacerbate this trend. In Yemen, for instance, over 590,000 women of childbearing age are expected to lose access to a midwife.
In light of the current funding crisis, UNFPA and partners recently launched the Global Midwifery Accelerator-a coordinated initiative to scale up midwife-led care in countries with the highest maternal mortality rates. The initiative sets ou
t a cost-effective roadmap focused on saving lives and strengthening national health systems, even in the most fragile contexts.
Making an urgent call for greater funding, training, and advocacy for midwifery, UNFPA stressed that universal midwife-led health coverage could avert two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths, reduce healthcare costs, and lead to more productive workforces.