FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, May 5, 2024 - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joined the Ministry of Health, the Sierra Leone Association of Midwives and other partners on 4th May to commemorate the 2024 International Day of the Midwife. This global observance, held annually on 5th May, honours the critical role midwives play in maternal and newborn healthcare.
This year's theme, "Midwives: A Vital Climate Solution," highlights the essential contributions of midwives to addressing climate change, one of the greatest health challenges facing countries around the world. Climate change results in hotter temperatures that can complicate pregnancies and lead to premature births and miscarriages, and contributes to flooding and extreme weather events that displace communities and make it harder for pregnant women to access healthcare. In addition, the impacts of climate change can expose women and girls to violence, and put girls at increased risk of child and forced marriage.
Sierra Leone has made significant strides in enhancing the midwifery workforce. Since 2010, the number of trained midwives has increased from less than 100 to over 1,800, as a result of efforts led by the Ministry of Health in partnership with UNFPA, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other partners. This support has contributed to the substantial improvement in the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel and the significant reduction in maternal mortality. Since 2010, Sierra Leone’s maternal mortality rate has reduced by 50 percent, from 837 deaths per 100,000 live births to 443 per 100,000 live births in 2020.
In her statement at the commemoration, Nadia Rasheed, UNFPA Country Representative, highlighted the indispensable role of midwives as "unsung heroes of healthcare," stating that midwives are central to realizing UNFPA’s three transformative goals of ensuring zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices. She further emphasized that “investing in midwives is one of the most cost-effective strategies for achieving universal sexual and reproductive health, and empowering women to claim their reproductive rights.”
Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, underscored the importance of midwives in advancing the country's development agenda, particularly in improving maternal and child health outcomes. She applauded midwives for their dedication, stating, "I am delighted to celebrate midwives and the amazing work they continue to perform in furtherance of the country's development and for an improved health sector in line with the UN sustainable development goals."
Matron Edwina Conteh, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Midwives, expressed gratitude to UNFPA and other partners for their support in enhancing the midwifery workforce and the yearly commemoration of the International Day of the Midwife. She called on midwives to reaffirm their commitment to being advocates for sustainable healthcare practices, stating, "as we celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Association and the International Day of the Midwife, let us reaffirm our commitment to being agents of change, not only in healthcare but also in environmental stewardship."
The commemoration featured various activities to raise awareness of the midwifery profession and role of midwives, including outreach to schools, media engagements, a thanksgiving service, and distribution of baby packs to pregnant women and lactating mothers. Isata Moijueh, a midwife from Kailahun district and one of 60 midwives who received a leadership award, expressed gratitude for being recognized for her contributions, stating, "I am excited that I got to be acknowledged as an awardee for the work I do. This is thanks to all the training I received from midwifery programmes supported by the Government, UNFPA and partners."
Media contacts: Islander Kabia | Communications Unit | UNFPA Sierra Leone | ikabia@unfpa.org
