UNFPA urges investment in midwifery to combat maternal, Newborn deaths in Nigeria

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has made a strong call for increased financial and programmatic investment in midwifery services as a critical strategy to significantly reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates in Bauchi State and across Nigeria.

This appeal was made during a one-day lecture organized to commemorate the International Day of the Midwife. The event, held on Monday for 200 students at the Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Sciences in Bauchi, underscored the vital role of midwives in healthcare.

“The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for increased financial and programmatic investment in midwifery to help reduce maternal and newborn mortality in Bauchi State and across Nigeria.”

Mrs Natalia Kanem, the UNFPA Executive Director, emphasized in her message delivered by the State Programme Officer, Ms. Deborah Tabara, that midwives are instrumental in delivering up to 90 percent of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health services, including crucial family planning support.

Ms. Tabara conveyed that with adequate support and resources, comprehensive midwifery services have the potential to avert as much as two-thirds of preventable maternal and newborn deaths. “We urge governments and donors to join UNFPA and partners in the Midwifery Accelerator Initiative, which seeks to boost investment in midwives and the systems that support them,” she stated.

She elaborated that the Midwifery Accelerator Initiative is a collaborative global effort involving UNFPA, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM),  and Jhpiego.

The initiative’s primary aim is to effectively integrate robust midwifery models into national health systems to achieve a significant reduction in preventable deaths and complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. 

Ms. Tabara also highlighted the paramount importance of fostering strong collaboration to strengthen the overall health workforce, particularly in times of emergency and crisis. “Midwives save lives, not just by providing maternal care but also by supporting survivors of gender-based violence, which increases during crises,” she emphasized, underscoring the multifaceted role of midwives in community health and well-being.

She further added that the strategic integration of midwives into humanitarian and disaster response plans represents a cost-effective and ultimately life-saving approach.

Despite their indispensable contributions to healthcare, Ms. Tabara noted that midwives often face considerable risks and challenges while working in remote or crisis-affected communities, and the profession as a whole continues to suffer from under-recognition and insufficient support.

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Also speaking at the event, Dr Yusuf Robinson, a facilitator, reiterated the central and pivotal role of midwives in the delivery of essential maternal, child, and reproductive health services within communities.

He highlighted that a persistent shortage of qualified health personnel remains a significant and ongoing challenge to effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The lecture addressed critical topics such as mental health and gender-based violence, with the overarching goal of equipping the midwifery students with the necessary skills and knowledge to operate effectively and provide crucial support in challenging crisis settings.

The program was a collaborative effort, organized by UNFPA in conjunction with the Bauchi State Ministry of Health.

The theme of this year’s International Day of the Midwife, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is “Critical in Every Crisis,” underscoring the unwavering importance of midwives in all circumstances, especially during times of emergency.

CREDITS : NANS