This year, on the International Day of the Midwife, we recognize, acknowledge and appreciate that midwives are “Critical in Every Crisis."
We celebrate this day a month after World Health Day, which this year focused on "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures." At the heart of this focus on maternal and newborn health – essential for strong and healthy communities – are midwives.
Births do not wait until crises are over, and midwives ensure the priority of mother and newborn by responding through all challenges, and all circumstances.
The recent devastating earthquakes in our region have left approximately 110,000 pregnant women in Myanmar struggling to access life-saving care. The dedication and resilience of midwives, responding in the face of such adversity, shows how truly critical they are in every crisis.
In our WHO South-East Region, our commitment to the health of women is clearly expressed in our Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience. We celebrate midwives today by reaffirming our commitment to support their work and invest in their future – because investing in them is investing in the health of women.
We can create a world where every mother and newborn have a healthy beginning and a hopeful future. On the International Day of the Midwife, let us commit to making this a reality together.