Invest in midwives. Invest in life.

Summary

This script highlights the essential role midwives play in saving lives, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early stages of a newborn's life. It emphasizes the impact of skilled midwives in preventing maternal and infant deaths, especially in low and middle-income countries. With a focus on empowering women and communities, the script calls for significant investment in midwifery education, leadership, and policies to ensure high-quality care. By investing in midwives, we contribute to global health, women's empowerment, and gender equality, ultimately shaping a healthier and more equitable future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Midwives are crucial in saving lives by providing skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
• 😀 Every year, nearly 10 women die every hour in Asia and the Pacific due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
• 😀 Skilled midwives can prevent maternal and infant deaths through effective management and identification of complications during the early stages of childbirth.
• 😀 The first 24 hours of a newborn's life are the most dangerous, but skilled midwives can make these hours safer for both mothers and babies.
• 😀 Universal coverage of midwife-delivered interventions could prevent 65% of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths in low and middle-income countries.
• 😀 Midwives play a pivotal role in empowering women and girls by providing advice on reproductive health, family planning, and self-care interventions.
• 😀 Midwives also help prevent harmful practices like gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, and child marriage.
• 😀 There is a global shortage of 900,000 midwives, with 200,000 of these in the Asia-Pacific region alone, which calls for urgent investment in midwifery education and training.
• 😀 Investment is needed in health workforce planning, management, and regulation to improve the quality of care midwives provide and gather data on their deployment and regulation.
• 😀 Midwifery should be recognized as a distinct and respected profession with senior leadership roles and midwives actively participating in shaping policies related to maternal and newborn health.

Q & A

Why are midwives crucial in maternal and newborn health?

Midwives play a vital role in saving the lives of both mothers and newborns by providing skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Their care significantly reduces maternal and infant deaths, especially in the critical first 24 hours of life.

How many women die each hour due to pregnancy and childbirth complications in Asia and the Pacific?

In Asia and the Pacific, 10 women die every hour as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

What percentage of maternal and neonatal deaths can midwives help prevent?

Midwives, through universal coverage of midwife-delivered interventions, could prevent 65% of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths in 88 low- and middle-income countries.

How does midwifery contribute to the empowerment of women and girls?

Midwives empower women and girls by providing information on reproductive rights, sexual and reproductive health services, family planning, and self-care. They also advocate for the prevention of gender-based violence and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage.

What is the global shortage of midwives?

There is a global shortage of approximately 900,000 midwives, with around 200,000 of them needed in the Asia-Pacific region alone.

What is required to address the midwife shortage?

To address the midwife shortage, investments are needed in high-quality education and training, according to global standards, along with health workforce planning, management, and regulation to ensure midwives have the knowledge and qualifications necessary to provide quality care.

Why is midwifery often not treated as a distinct and respected profession?

Midwifery often lacks recognition as a distinct profession, and the scope of practice for midwives is not always well-defined. This lack of recognition can affect their career development, the quality of care they provide, and their role in shaping maternal and newborn health policies.

How can midwives contribute to gender equality?

By providing care and support in various areas of sexual and reproductive health, midwives contribute to gender equality by promoting women's health, empowering families, and advocating for the rights and dignity of women and girls in their communities.

What should investments in midwifery include?

Investments in midwifery should include high-quality education and training, leadership development, creation of senior midwife positions, involvement in policymaking, and support for midwife-led service delivery models that cater to maternal, newborn, adolescent, and reproductive health.

What is the impact of midwives on society as a whole?

Midwives not only save lives but also have a broader impact on families and entire communities. They empower women and families, reduce health risks, and contribute to the overall health and well-being of societies, fostering better health outcomes and gender equality.