Message of WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
Every year on 5 May, the International Confederation of Midwives leads the world in celebrating the International Day of the Midwife. In 2020, WHO is celebrating the Year of the Nurse and Midwife and so this is an excellent opportunity to recognize the vital roles of midwives in assisting women with pregnancy, childbirth and during the postpartum period.
The theme for the International Day of the Midwife this year is “Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilize, unite,” which emphasizes the importance of mobilizing communities and maintaining provision of essential health services, particularly as countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the African Region, between 2000 and 2017, maternal and newborn deaths have declined by 40% in the African Region, thanks largely to the commitment of midwives working with other health professionals.
However, one in two (53%) of African midwives have reported feeling disrespected by fellow health workers in the course of their work. We must therefore do more to appreciate the valuable contribution of midwives in health-care teams.
Countries are making strides in improving the skill and working environment for midwives. Ghana has introduced a graduate diploma in midwifery and revised job descriptions to give midwives more autonomy. Lesotho is also interested in providing advanced levels of pre-service training.
In the African Region, WHO has worked with countries to strengthen regulatory frameworks, and competency-based and standardized education, training and practice for midwives, including integrated training for nursing and midwifery. Faith-based training institutions in Botswana, Cameroon, Lesotho and Malawi are all using WHO’s midwifery curricula. Experts from Sierra Leone, Zambia and WHO collaborating centres on nursing and midwifery are supporting several countries to review their curricula and regulatory instruments in line with WHO guidance.
In the COVID-19 response, we are training nurses and midwives in infection prevention and control to limit the transmission of this virus in health facilities. So far, over 3000 front-line health workers, including midwives, have participated in webinars. These activities complement trainings led by chief nurses and midwifery officers in countries.
Countries are also making sure essential health services, like safe deliveries, are not disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Malawi, for instance, risk allowances for health workers, including midwives, have been increased, and 2000 more health workers have been recruited including 700 nurse and midwives.
Moving forward, we must ensure that the voices, perspectives and leadership of midwives, nurses and women are included and respected. I therefore, call on governments, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and partners to invest in midwifery development from education to practice with appropriate regulatory frameworks, support materials and human resources. This is imperative to improve health outcomes for women and infants.
On the International Day of the Midwife in 2010, I congratulate midwives across the Africa Region for your professionalism and commitment to ensuring the safety of mothers and their newborn babies, even on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more:
- WHO fact sheet on maternal mortality
- Midwives' voices, midwives' realities. Findings from a global consultation on providing quality midwifery care (WHO, 2016)
- The regional professional regulatory framework for nursing and midwifery: creating a common approach to regulation, educational preparation and practice: future direction for nursing & midwifery development in the African region (WHO Regional Office for Africa, 2016)
- Four-year, integrated nursing and midwifery competency-based, prototype curriculum for the African Region 2016 (WHO Regional Office for Africa, 2016)