WHO Says Investing in Midwifery Can Save Countries Millions of Dollars

The United Nations Population Fund along with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report that found 73 countries worldwide are lacking midwifery services.

A total of 73 African, Asian, and Latin American countries were featured in the report, all of which these organizations claim are in desperate need of midwifery services that would save the lives of millions of women and children as well as generate millions of dollars.

Midwives are not only essential for helping women give birth - they also assist in providing everyday care to women and their children. Their international demand would reduce newborn deaths by 66% and provide women and newborns with 90% of the essential care needed, even within a fully functional health care system.

"Midwives make enormous contributions to the health of mothers and newborns and the well-being of entire communities. Access to quality health care is a basic human right. Greater investment in midwifery is key to making this right a reality for women everywhere," said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, in this WHO news release.

The report, "State of the World's Midwifery: A Universal Pathway - A Woman's Right to Health," was established in 2011 at the 30^th ICM Triennial Congress in Prague, Czech Republic. Each year it aims to solve issues in four key areas relative to midwifery: availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of services. Each annual report has different focuses, being that there are different needs required during different times.

The 2014 report focused on ensuring that all women have access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn services. This includes preventive and supportive care, access to emergency services, and the completion of a post-secondary education. Midwifery is an essential aspect of life in many other countries that don't offer or possess a substantial system of health care.

"We will continue to support countries to develop and strengthen their midwifery services as a critical intervention to save the lives of women and newborns," said Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women's and Children's Health, in the WHO news release.

You can read more about the international midwifery issue on the WHO website.