Celebrate Midwives on May 5th: International Day of the Midwife
By Marian Van Huis, International Confederation of Midwives
On May 5th, people all over the world celebrate the difference midwives make in saving the lives of mothers and babies. International Day of the Midwife is about spreading awareness of the need for midwives and the impact they have on maternal and child health. It is also about advocating for government commitments to improve maternal and neonatal health by raising the number of midwives, and increasing funding and legislative support for midwifery. These efforts are not just a means to advance a professional occupation, but are an opportunity to advance the status of girls and women everywhere and have a positive impact on the lives of everyone in their communities.
350,000 women and 3 million neonates die each year as a result of mostly preventable circumstances. Ninety-nine percent of maternal deaths occur in developing countries and sixty percent of these maternal deaths happen in only 6 countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Every woman, everywhere, should have the right to a safe childbirth experience. This includes the right to deliver where, with whom, and how she wants. Whether a woman wants to give birth in a hospital, health facility, or at home, she should have access to skilled care during, before and after childbirth. But inequities of qualified care continue to exist throughout the world, in both developed and developing countries. In many countries, midwifery services are underfunded because of budget cuts and as a result of market-driven policies. Other countries have not yet made the decision to provide any funding for midwifery services.
And yet midwives are key to achieving the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity called for MDGs 4 and 5. There is a shortage of 350,000 midwives globally. If this shortage was addressed, more than one million babies each year could be saved. With more educated, competent midwives working in a regulated system and the legislation to back it up, a huge difference can be made in the lives of mothers, children and the families with whom they are connected.
But governments need to do their utmost to support this system by supporting midwifery education, legislation and regulation of the midwifery profession. In places where governments have already made commitments to improving the status and number of midwives, such as in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, we find proof that by supporting midwives there is a reduction of maternal and child mortality and morbidity and society as a whole is supported.
The International Confederation of Midwives has established global standards on the education, competencies, and regulation of the midwifery profession as a guide for governments and associations (available here). These standards make it easier to educate midwives, ensuring that individuals seeking care from midwives receive competent treatment and inspiring confidence in the midwifery profession as a career choice.
On the International Day of the Midwife, we demonstrate our commitment to supporting midwives with mothers, colleagues and partners worldwide. The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and the International Confederation of Midwives are natural partners in the fight to improve the number, status and working conditions of midwives around the world for the benefit of mothers and babies and their families.
Join us in asking for governments and individuals to celebrate midwives: Download the ICM’s resource packet to learn what you can do to celebrate IDM or click here to learn more about WRA’s Action of the Month: Midwives Matter.
