Africa-Press – Botswana. With adequate investment in midwives, maternal deaths could be reduced by over 60 per cent and infant mortality by nearly two-thirds.
“These are not just numbers, but represent lives saved, futures secured and stronger communities.”
Thus said UNFPA head of office, Ms Tlangelani Shilubane-Pietersen when delivering a keynote address during the Botswana’s inaugural commemoration of the International Day of the Midwife in Gaborone, yesterday.
She was quoting the 2024 State of the World’s Midwifery (SOWMY) report in whose Johannesburg dissemination workshop her organisation sponsored the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana (NMCB) to participate.
Ms Shilubane-Pietersen expressed concern that whilst Botswana had made significant strides in advancing maternal health policies, challenges such as human resource shortages remained, stressing the need for an increased number of qualified midwives to meet the growing demand.
“Continuous professional development must be prioritised to ensure midwives are proficient in modern, evidence-based practices. The strengthening of midwifery systems also requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including government, healthcare institutions and communities,” she added.
Furthermore, she said a robust midwifery sector required strong partnerships, reiterating UNFPA’s continuous commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health and forging a strategic alliance with the NMCB to ensure midwives received the necessary training, oversight and recognition to maintain the highest standards of maternal care.
Through this collaboration, Ms Shilubane-Pietersen said UNFPA aimed to strengthen regulatory policies that empowered midwives, adding that investment in midwifery-led care was critical in improving maternal and childbirth outcomes.
“When midwives are equipped with appropriate resources, training and institutional support, their impact extends far beyond childbirth. So, let this day serve as an emphatic reminder that midwives are indispensable,” she said.
She commended the government and the NMCB for holding the first ever International Day of the Midwife to celebrate and recognise midwifery as a cornerstone of Botswana’s healthcare system in ensuring an end to preventable maternal deaths.
She noted that the inaugural event came after UNFPA supported the NMCB to participate in the 2024 SOWMY report dissemination workshop to learn from global best practices.
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