Celebrating Midwives As The Pathway To Reducing Maternal Deaths In Liberia 

OP-ED by Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative and Officer In- Charge, UNFPA Liberia; May 05, 2025

Every day, if not every hour, a child is born somewhere in the world. 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.

UNFPA views midwives as crucial for achieving global reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) goals. We direct part of our efforts to strengthen midwifery education and practice, empowering midwives in leadership roles, and addressing gender inequities within the profession. UNFPA emphasizes that investing in midwives is a cost-effective strategy for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes and promoting women’s rights.

UNFPA’s work is underlined by the mission that every pregnancy is wanted every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Achieving this mission underscores the important role midwives play in our society.

Liberia has a high rate of maternal mortality. The Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019/2020 report indicates that Liberia experiences 742 deaths per every 100,000 live births. This means that for every 100,000 women that go to give birth to a child, 742 of them lose their lives in the process. Midwives can change this sad narrative if we give them support.

Midwives save lives

Well-trained midwives working in a fully functional environment have the potential to avert roughly two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths. They can also deliver 90 percent of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services. Yet, midwives account for only 10 per cent of the global health workforce due to a lack of investment and support.

Since 2008, UNFPA has collaborated with partners and governments to build a welltrained and well-supported midwifery workforce in low-resource settings. UNFPA focuses on these key areas: strengthening midwifery education and training; establishing an enabling environment and regulatory mechanism for midwives to ensure quality services; raising the voices of midwives by strengthening the leadership of midwifery associations and young midwifery leaders; and preparing midwives to deliver comprehensive and integrated sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health services.

Midwives: the cornerstone of our existence

UNFPA congratulates Liberia’s Ministry of Health on the launch of its new catchphrase as part of a campaign to reduce maternal deaths in the country. The catchphrase, every mother matters, every birth counts, should serve as a reminder of the significant role midwives play in the race towards zero maternal deaths. Midwives have been the backbone of human existence as far back as 400 BC, where pregnancy and childbirth required women to give birth in challenging and life-threatening environments. Midwives do not only facilitate the safe arrivals of newborns in this world, but they also ensure that mothers do not lose their lives while giving birth to their children.

Midwives provide essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services as well as sexual and reproductive health education to women and adolescent girls. They are the only ones trusted to ensure the safety of pregnant women and their babies at the same moment. Midwives work in all contexts.

Midwives: the sheroos during crisis. 

During the devastating Ebola outbreak that struck Liberia in 2014, a period marked by incomparable fear and necessary isolation, most workers were instructed to remain safely within the confines of their homes. However, amidst this landscape of caution, midwives stood as beacons of hope and resilience. These courageous service providers, recognizing the urgent and unwavering need for maternal and newborn care, remained in active service. Their unwavering commitment ensured that expectant mothers and newborns continued to receive essential care, even as the healthcare system in Liberia faced unprecedented strain.

Years later in 2019, when the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic seemed to bring the entire world to an abrupt and unsettling standstill, triggering global lockdowns and a shift towards remote working for many, the dedication of midwives once again shone through. While countless individuals transitioned to working from the safety of their homes, midwives in Liberia (like everywhere else) remained on the front lines of healthcare. Their commitment to their communities transcended the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic. Midwives continued their crucial work by providing essential prenatal care, assisted in safe deliveries, and offered vital postnatal support, demonstrating an enduring dedication to the health and well-being of women and infants in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Their tireless efforts underscored their indispensable role as frontline healthcare providers, particularly during times of profound crisis, solidifying their image as true heroes within their communities.

Happy International Day of the Midwife

On this International Day of the Midwife (05 May), UNFPA Liberia extends its deepest appreciation and heartfelt congratulations to every midwife in Liberia and across the world for their unending dedication, tireless efforts, and profound commitment to their vital role in maternal and newborn health.

The expertise of midwives extends beyond medical assistance, encompassing emotional support, health education, and the empowerment of women to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. UNFPA Liberia recognizes the critical contributions of midwives in achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

We commend their resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to saving lives and promoting the well-being of mothers and newborns, even in the most challenging circumstances. Liberia is assured of appreciable success if the country makes smart investments in midwives in its efforts to reduce maternal mortality to 440 per 100,000 live births by 2029 as envisaged in the National Development Plan.