Strengthening Midwifery

WHO WPRO Meeting on Ending Newborn Mortality & Morbidity

Tokyo, JAPANSeptember 21-25, 2015

Strengthening Nursing and MidwiferyA Global Study, WHO, 1997

Source: Pattinson R, Kerber K, Buchmann E, et al, for The Lancet’s Stillbirths Series steering committee. Stillbirths: how can health systems deliver for mothers and babies? Lancet 2011; published online April 14. DOI:10.1016/S0140-

6736(10)62306-9.

If intervention in pregnancy and at birth reached all

families by 2015: 1.4 million newborn

deaths averted (43%)

1.1 million stillbirths prevented (45%)

201,000 maternal deaths averted (54%)

Care at Birth Gives a Triple Return on Investments by Also Reducing

Stillbirths and Maternal Deaths

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

Stillbirths Maternal deaths Neonatal deaths

Dea

ths

ave

rted

The Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2011-2015

Key Result Areas:

1.Strengthening health systems and services 2.Nursing and midwifery policy and practice 3. Education, training and career development4. Nursing and midwifery workforce management5. Partnership for nursing and midwifery services

The Implications of the Strategy on Nursing and Midwifery

Background to Recent Midwifery Developments

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

First Global Midwifery

Symposium. Washington

DC

SoWMy 2014 in the Headlines

State of World Midwifery 2014

• SRMNH data/workforce projections for each of 73 "Countdown countries"

• Midwives can provide 87% of the needed essential care for women and newborns, when educated and trained to international standards.

• Midwives most effective when they work within a functional health system and enabling environment.

• Also, a supportive team of auxiliaries, physicians and specialists is essential in order to ensure coverage of services to women and newborns across the whole continuum of care.

State of World Midwifery 2014

• The report puts forward a vision of Midwifery2030, a pathway for women's health and for midwifery policy and planning through the end of 2030.

• It promotes women-centered and midwife-led care to achieve the goal of universal health coverage for all women

• Tools for determining midwifery needs

WPRO Countries (China, LaoPDR, Vietnam)

Country Briefs: Overview

Current need

Future need

Effective coverage

today

Availability

Accessibility

Quality

Future availability

Midwifery Education & Training

• National recognition of need for midwives• Quality midwifery education/training curriculum

– Role of ICM and constituent bodies– Educational institution -vs- health institution

location– Theoretical knowledge and competency– On site supervision; minimum case

requirements • Registration, recognition of qualifications

Publications on Midwifery Education

WHO is supporting implementation of midwifery core competencies and

accompanying tools

Midwifery as a Profession

• Recognition by national legislation• Career structure, remuneration, recertification • Collegiality with other MNH professionals• Access to/for women, babies & their families• Professional associations• Increasing numbers and quality necessary for

national and global attainment of SDGs in Western Pacific Region

[Note: Launch of AMA (Asian Midwifery Alliance) imminent]

Conclusion

• Developing and strengthening human resources for health means recognizing that midwifery services play a vital role in improving health service delivery.

• Midwives provide services close to mothers, their newborns, children and families.

• The global HRH strategy offers an opportunity to strategically recommend the future work of midwifery post-2015 development agenda in 2016 at the WHA.

• SoWMY, a strong foundation to improve access, acceptability, availability and quality of midwives and midwifery services.