Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: On the eve of the International Day of the Midwife, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for urgent and sustained investment in Pakistan’s midwifery workforce, terming midwives “a critical pillar for national health and development.”
Dr. Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA Representative in Pakistan, highlighted the indispensable role midwives play in safeguarding maternal and newborn health, especially in rural and underserved regions.
“Midwives are the guardians of life at its most critical moments,” he said adding, “Their skilled care transforms childbirth from a moment of risk into a moment of safety, dignity and hope.”
Dr. Shabaneh expressed concern over Pakistan’s alarming maternal health indicators. The country accounts for nearly four percent of global maternal deaths, with around 155 women losing their lives for every 100,000 live births, most due to preventable causes. Despite the high need, Pakistan faces a shortage of almost 82,000 midwives and has only 2.2 midwives per 10,000 people, half the global average.
“These numbers are not just statistics—they represent lives lost and families changed forever,” he stressed.
UNFPA underscored that investing in midwives is both a lifesaving and economically sound strategy. Evidence shows that a well-trained and fully supported midwifery workforce can reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, ease pressure on hospitals, enhance primary healthcare, and improve long-term productivity.
However, Dr. Shabaneh noted that midwives in Pakistan continue to work under challenging conditions, often without essential equipment, medicines, safe workplaces, or fair compensation.
He urged Pakistan to scale up midwifery education, expand the B.S. Midwifery Programme, strengthen training standards, and ensure midwives were recruited and deployed where they are needed most. He also called for integrating midwives into the health system with clear career pathways, legal protection, professional recognition, and adequate budgetary allocation.
“Access to skilled midwifery care is a fundamental right. No woman should lose her life while giving life,” he emphasized.
Reaffirming its commitment, UNFPA pledged continued support to the government in strengthening midwifery education, workforce development, and health systems.
“The path forward is clear, the evidence is strong, and the returns are undeniable,” Dr. Shabaneh said. “The question is not whether we can afford to invest in midwives, but whether we can afford not to.”
He urged the nation to stand with midwives by valuing their contributions and enabling them to reach their full potential which is beneficial “in the dignity, prosperity and future of Pakistan.
