The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has identified midwives as a potential vehicle and strategy to drastically reduce the skyrocketing maternal deaths across the country, especially in rural areas, to achieve the Global Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) goals.
At the same time, the UNFPA, reflecting on the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019/2020 report, which indicates that Liberia experiences 742 deaths per 100,000 live births, midwives’ capacity strengthening and education are tools to liberate the sector.
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 evident that childbirth will continue to be one of the daily experiences in health facilities and communities.
Kamugisha disclosed that 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.
Kamugisha sees midwives as being crucial for achieving Global Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) goals. Thus, UNFPA directs part of its efforts to strengthen midwifery education and practice, empowering midwives in leadership roles, and addressing gender inequities within the profession. He said investing in midwives is a cost-effective strategy for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes and promoting women’s rights.
International Midwife Day, celebrated annually on May 5th, highlights the vital of midwives in ensuring safe childbirth and maternal care. It recognizes their comprehensive care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period, emphasizing the importance of midwifery in promoting healthy pregnancies and empowering women to make informed decisions.
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 commended midwives for their resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to saving lives and promoting the well-being of mothers and newborns, even in the most challenging circumstances.
“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,” Kamugisha noted.
He further indicated that 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.
Kamugisha believes that achieving this mission underscores the important role midwives play in the society, adding that Liberia has a high rate of maternal mortality, but “Midwives can change this sad narrative if we give them support.
He said that 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.
