Midwives are in the frontlines, risking their lives to save others during humanitarian crises. However, they do not receive the recognition and support they deserve. They can deliver 90 percent of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services, but they make up only 10 percent of those providing these. Equipping them with better training and resources, and increasing their share in the global workforce are key to saving millions of lives worldwide.
Ankara, Türkiye – Midwives play a critical role in strengthening the health and well-being of women, adolescents, and newborns, making safe and effective care more accessible to communities worldwide. Universal access to midwife-led care could prevent nearly two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths, potentially saving over 4.3 million lives each year by 2035. Beyond the health impact, investing in midwifery care offers high returns: Every dollar invested can yield up to 16 times its value in economic and social benefits. However, there is a big shortage of midwives all over the world. According to the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery report, the global workforce stands at 1.9 million—about two-thirds of what is needed, leaving a critical shortage of nearly one million midwives worldwide.
In humanitarian emergencies, midwives are especially vital. Women are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth in crisis settings due to limited access to quality sexual and reproductive health services. Often among the first to respond, midwives provide critical care when and where it's needed most. Strengthening and empowering midwives leads to meaningful progress, ensuring that even in the most remote or dangerous areas, women receive the life-saving support they deserve.
However, midwives face multiple constraints in providing services despite their life-saving roles. Crisis settings especially exacerbate these obstacles, where their own safety is also at risk. They usually lack adequate training and resources to offer the full range of essential sexual and reproductive health and protection services during emergencies.
Strengthening the role of midwives in crisis-prone settings must be a global and national priority. Conflict-affected and fragile countries accounted for 61.4 percent of maternal deaths in 2023. Building health systems that are equipped to manage risks and sustain services during crises calls for integrating well-planned and fully funded midwife-led care. Adequate investments can ensure that midwives are trained and equipped to provide sexual and reproductive health services and information consistently and sustainably in conflicts and other fragile settings.
Unfortunately, recent cuts in official development assistance pose a serious threat to the provision of services by midwives. Midwives themselves are already reporting a rise in maternal and infant deaths in crisis zones.
Building a better future for women begins with supporting midwives, wherever and whenever they are needed most. Strengthening midwife-led care must be a global and national priority, backed by sustained investments from governments and donors. Equipping midwives to deliver sexual and reproductive health services in fragile settings, and leveraging private sector innovations such as digital tools, can ensure that care continues even in the most challenging conditions.
What does UNFPA do in Turkiye?
UNFPA is working towards the health goal for everyone, everywhere in Turkiye by supporting comprehensive, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care. To this end, UNFPA carries out community-based programs in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and universities to improve reproductive health, safe motherhood, and newborn health and strengthen health literacy and health-seeking behaviors.
Moreover, UNFPA has supported the training and deployment of midwives to strengthen reproductive health services for vulnerable communities in emergencies and crises, including the 2023 earthquakes. Further, UNFPA conducts studies and reports on curricula and training programs in Turkiye and the status of midwifery in the country, including suggestions, interventions, and multisectoral programs.
Following the major 6 February 2023 earthquakes in Turkiye, UNFPA established over 100 service units, including mobile units and safe spaces for women and girls, where midwives and health professionals provide sexual and reproductive health information and services.
UNFPA is committed to supporting governments in advancing gender equality, health, and human rights. Investing in midwives by expanding their roles and power, improving their training, and equipping them with the necessary resources is an investment in safer births, stronger communities, and a healthier future for everyone.
