Today the United Nations Population Fund China is joining the celebration of the International Day of the Midwife 2022. 

Globally every day, over 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and over 200 million women lack access to contraception.

It is evident that well-educated, skilled and empowered midwives can provide a range of sexual and reproductive health services including caring for women and babies throughout pregnancy, childbirth and beyond, and providing contraceptives.

This year, the International Day of the Midwife coincides with the celebration of the 100 years’ anniversary of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). UNFPA partners with the ICM and we support the work of midwives and midwifery in more than 120 countries.

In China, we have been working with the national partners including National Health Commission, China Maternal and Children’s Health Association, China Family Planning Association and Peking University Health Science Center:

• to promote and improve competency based midwifery education, training and practice;
• to advocate on the role of midwives in providing quality sexual and reproductive health services; and
• to support the development of midwifery as an independent profession.

Skilled midwives save millions of lives. The State of the World’s Midwifery report produced 2021 by UNFPA, ICM and WHO revealed that if countries invest in midwives and midwifery, an estimated 4.3 million lives can be saved every year by 2035. Many countries experience shortage of midwives.  On this day, we call for investment in midwifery as an essential element of health care.  

Let us celebrate together, salute and support the midwives in China and around the world.