UNFPA advocates support to enhance services of midwives

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for greater investments to increase the number of midwives and enhance the quality of their services.

Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, gave the charge in a message to mark the International Day of the Midwife 2016.

Osotimehin, who quoted available evidence, stressed how midwives who are educated and regulated to international standards could provide 87 per cent of the essential care needed by women and their newborns.

He stressed how nearly 800 women die daily from pregnancy and childbirth complications.

The International Day of the Midwife is marked on May 5 every year.

The UNFPA chief noted: “Today, on the International Day of the Midwife, we stand in solidarity with midwives worldwide and thank them for the life-saving work they do.

“There is no stronger testament to their care and commitment than baby Obada, the 3,000th baby delivered safely at the women’s clinic in the Za’atari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. Since the clinic started providing normal delivery services in June 2013, all babies have been born healthy and the infant and maternal death rate is zero.”

He called for strong political commitment and investment in midwives as part of urgent efforts to save millions of lives every year.