Africa-Press – Lesotho. In order to mark International Day of the Midwife, UNFPA together with World Health Organization and the International Confederation of Midwives today launched the State of the Midwifery report.
It is estimated that an increase in the number of midwives and the quality care they provide would save 4.3 million lives by 2035.
The theme for this year is: “Follow the data and invest in midwives”.
The day is meant to honour midwives for their contribution towards the health of their nations and to increase awareness about the midwives’ efforts towards their patients all over the world.
If the targeted worldwide coverage of midwives’ interventions is achieved by 2035, then 67 percent of maternal deaths would be prevented.
“Such achievements depend on midwives gaining better education and training, along with comprehensive and supportive workplace regulation.
They must have a greater role in professional leadership and governance, and scope to use their experience in health policies and service delivery,” the letter read.
Highlighting the challenges faced by midwives, the Executive Director of UNFPA said midwives work under extraordinary circumstances.
They walk long distances to reach women to assist them to safely give birth and, because of Covid-19, they have faced even more pressures and intensified inequalities in their workplace.
UNFPA representative to Lesotho Dr Marc Derveeuw expressed his appreciation to the midwives in Lesotho for their efforts and the risks they have taken in the time of Covid-19 to provide live saving services to pregnant mothers in times of need.
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