GLOBAL: CONTINUING COVERAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MIDWIFE

GUATEMALA: La Hora and Sonora es Noticia reported on 12 May that on 5 May, UNFPA and the Centre for Reproductive Health, organized a discussion group to urge authorities to recognize the work of reproductive health in conjunction with midwives and physicians. Read in Spanish: La Hora. Listen in Spanish: Sonora

SWAZILAND: The Swazi Observer reported on 10 May that report to highlight the crucial role midwives play in saving lives and strengthening national health systems will be released next month. UNFPA together with more than 20 partners will scale up joint effort by investing in midwives programmes with the International Confederation of Midwives to cover 30 countries. Babatunde Osotimehim, the executive director of UNFPA in a statement marking the International Day of the Midwife, said that the current global shortage of some 350,000 professional midwives meant that women and their newborns died from complications that could have been easily prevented by a health worker. Read: The Swazi Observer

UGANDA: The New Vision reported on 10 May that the government has been urged to prioritize the training and recruitment of more midwives to save lives of mothers and children in health facilities. UNFPA Representative Janet Jackson said this will reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Uganda. Ms. Jackson also requested the government improve the working conditions of midwives and nurses. She made the appeal during the recent celebrations to mark the International Day of the Midwife held in Namungalwe sub-county in Iganga district. Read: New Vision

YEMEN: Multiple media outlets reported on 11 May on Yemen’s celebration of International Day of Midwives. Under the slogan “The World Needs Midwives,” Yemen celebrated the International Day of Midwives, which was organized by the Yemeni Midwives Association with support from UNFPA. Amataalrazak Humed, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Jamila Al-Raebi, Deputy Minister of Health and Population attended the event in which they exalted the commitment of UNFPA, WHO and the International Confederation of Midwives to decrease maternal mortality by facilitating women’s access to midwifery services worldwide - particularly in developing countries. UNFPA Representative Marc Vandenberg pointed out that “each year, more than 8,000 Yemeni woman die due to causes related, directly or indirectly, to pregnancy and delivery. And only 33 per cent of total births are assisted by skilled health personnel in the field of midwifery.” Read in Arabic: Saba, Al Gomhoriah, 14 October, News Yemen, Sahafah, Naba News