Monrovia, Liberia – Midwives have been recognized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as a potential tool and strategy to significantly lower the nation’s rapidly rising maternal mortality rate, particularly in rural areas, and to meet the Global Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) targets.
At the same time, the UNFPA expressed worry and identified midwives’ capacity building and education as a means of emancipating the sector in light of the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019/2020 report, which shows that the country had 742 fatalities for every 100,000 live births.
Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative and Officer In- Charge, UNFPA Liberia in an Op-Ed dated May 5, 2025 in commemoration of international midwives Day captioned “Celebrating Midwives as the Pathway to Reducing Maternal Deaths in Liberia” said that every day, if not every hour, a child is born somewhere in the world.
According to him, in societies like Liberia, where the population is dominated by youths under the age of 35, it is eminent that childbirth will continue to be one of the daily experiences in health facilities and communities.
Kamugisha revealed that if Liberia makes wise investments in midwives, it would have significant success in achieving the National Development Plan’s goal of lowering maternal death to 440 per 100,000 live births by 2029.
According to Kamugisha, the UNFPA believes that midwives are essential to reaching the goals of Global Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH). We focus some of our efforts on improving midwifery practice and education, giving midwives more leadership opportunities, and resolving gender disparities in the field.
He emphasized that funding midwives is an economical way to improve women’s rights and enhance the health of expectant mothers and newborns.
“Every year on May 5th, we commemorate International Midwife Day, which emphasizes the critical role midwives play in providing safe delivery and mother care. In addition to highlighting the value of midwifery in fostering healthy pregnancies and enabling women to make educated decisions, it acknowledges their holistic care throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum phase.”
This day also raises awareness about the need for skilled birth attendants and the positive impact midwives have on reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates.
The UNFPA Deputy Representative expressed gratitude to midwives nationwide for their resilience and contribution to reducing maternal mortality, praising them for their compassion, tenacity, and unwavering dedication to saving lives and advancing the health of mothers and newborns despite the most trying situations.
“In honor of this International Day of the Midwife (May 5), UNFPA Liberia would like to express its sincere gratitude and congrats all midwives in Liberia and around the world for their unwavering devotion, ceaseless work, and profound commitment to their critical role in maternal and newborn health. Midwives’ knowledge goes beyond providing medical care; they also provide emotional support, health education, and the ability for women to make knowledgeable decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health. In order to guarantee that every pregnancy is desired, every delivery is safe, and every young person’s potential is realized, Kamugisha stated that UNFPA Liberia acknowledges the vital roles that midwives play in attaining universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.”
UNFPA Liberia’s Deputy Representative and Officer in-Charge further stated that the organization’s aim is to ensure that every young person’s potential is realized, every pregnancy is desired, and every delivery is safe. Since maternal mortality is high in Liberia, Kamugisha believes that fulfilling this objective highlights the critical role that midwives play in society.
According to the 2019/2020 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey report, there are 742 deaths for every 100,000 live births in Liberia. This indicates that 742 women die during childbirth for every 100,000 who go through the process. “If we support midwives, we can change this sad narrative,” Kamugisha said.
According to the head of UNFPA Liberia, well-trained midwives operating in a fully functioning setting might save almost two-thirds of all stillbirths and maternal and neonatal fatalities.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
