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International Day of the Midwife 2018

Samarkand, 5 May 2018 – On the occasion of the International Day of the Midwife Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan and United Nations Population Fund in Uzbekistan (UNFPA) join hands in celebrating the achievements of midwives and progress made in improving maternal and neonatal care as well as advocating for expansion of the midwives’ role in rendering quality maternal and neonatal care. The Conference gathered more than 50 leading and active midwives of Samarkand city and Samarkand province maternity hospitals.

The conference reinforces the role of the midwife as well as continued efforts in increasing awareness of the role of midwives. “We are all here today to highlight the critical role midwives play. Safe motherhood is every woman’s basic human right. Every woman deserves access to quality midwifery care during pregnancy and childbirth. And midwife is the best partner of the pregnant woman. Midwives when well-educated and supported by a functional health system, can help avert over two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths” – marked Ms. Mieko Yabuta, UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan, in her opening speech.

The theme of this year’s International Day of the Midwife is ”Midwives leading the way with quality care ". “Midwives leading the way with quality care” is significant in highlighting the vital role that midwives play not only in ensuring women and their newborns navigate pregnancy and childbirth safely, but also receive respectful and well-resourced maternity care that can create a lifetime of good health and wellbeing beyond the childbirth continuum.

The quality of a midwife’s care is of paramount importance. Midwives who are educated and trained, they are able to lead the way towards improved maternal and newborn health outcomes locally, nationally and globally.

UNFPA strongly supports the training and work of midwives in more than 100 countries. Since 2009, UNFPA has worked with partners to support over 600 midwifery schools, educating more than 80,000 midwives. UNFPA has strengthened national midwifery associations in 75 countries and helped enhance the regulatory framework for midwifery practice to ensure accountability.

UNFPA celebrates the heroic and life-saving work that midwives do every day. Thanks to midwives, millions of women each year are able to exercise their right to sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning. These services help ensure wanted, healthy pregnancies and safe births. Midwives are good ambassadors to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must value and support them leading with care.

The Conference, which took place at the “Registan Plaza” hotel in Samarkand city, focused on the role of midwives in mother & childhood healthcare, sharing experiences and discussion of future plans and interventions in the midwifery field. The event concluded with awarding ceremony of more than 50 most active leading midwives of Samarkand city and Samarkand province maternity hospitals.