UNFPA Celebrates Midwives: Essential for Uganda's Health and Climate Resilience

Gulu, Uganda, 5 May 2024 - To commemorate the International Day of the Midwife on 5 May 2023, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joined the Ministry of Health, the Swedish Embassy in Uganda and other partners in convening a series of events to celebrate the contribution of midwives to saving lives of women and newborn babies.

Midwives are essential to Uganda's health sector. Their dedication has significantly reduced maternal mortality. The recent 2022 Uganda Demographic Health Survey shows a drop from 336 to 189 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Infant mortality has also decreased, from 43 to 34 per 1,000 live births.

In Uganda, when disasters like the floods in Kasese or mudslides in the Mbale region happen, midwives are always available to ensure that essential reproductive and maternal health services remain accessible and responsive to the needs of communities. The continuity of midwife care enhances health outcomes and contributes to environmental sustainability and adaptability by reducing the carbon footprint of health services and making them more climate resilient.

Midwives matched across Gulu city in celebration of their work in saving mother and babies and solidarity towards a sustainable climate action

In her statement on the International Day of the Midwife 2024, Dr. Natalia Kanem, the Executive Director of UNFPA, underscored a grim reality: “every two minutes, a woman or girl succumbs somewhere in the world due to pregnancy, childbirth, or its consequences”. Furthermore, she emphasized the exacerbating impact of climate change on this already dire situation.

Prior to this year's commemoration, UNFPA collaborated with the Ministry of Health and the Uganda Midwifery Association to host a two-day series of events. This initiative featured a symposium focused on the pivotal role of midwives in combating climate change and bolstering the resilience of both the health sector and communities in the face of climate-related challenges. The commemorative activities culminated in the grand celebration of midwives at Kaunda Ground in Gulu City on 5 May.

Ms. Juliana Lunguzi, Programme Coordinator SRHR & Integration, who represented the UNFPA Country Representative, Ms. Gift Malunga,underscored that "UNFPA calls upon the government to invest more in midwives, especially through recruitment, salary enhancement, and improving their working standards, such as providing necessities like gloves."

She commended the generous support from the government of Sweden and other development partners towards midwifery.

Guests pose for a group photo. The function was graced by government officials, politicians, the community, other UN agencies, midwives and Swedish Embassy team. Sweden is a key supporter of midwifery work in Uganda.

Despite experiencing high levels of stress, with workload being a major factor, midwives in Uganda are dedicated to providing continuity of care. This not only improves health outcomes for mothers and newborns but also strengthens the healthcare system in Uganda.