06 May 2025

With adequate investment in midwives, maternal deaths could be reduced by over 60 per cent and infant mortality by nearly two-thirds.
“These are not just numbers, but represent lives saved, futures secured and stronger communities.”
Thus said UNFPA head of office, Ms Tlangelani Shilubane-Pietersen when delivering a keynote address during the Botswana's inaugural commemoration of the International Day of the Midwife in Gaborone on Monday. She was quoting the 2024 State of the World's Midwifery (SOWMY) Report in whose Johannesburg dissemination workshop sponsored the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana (NMCB) to participate.
Ms Shilubane-Pietersen expressed concern that whilst Botswana had made significant strides in advancing maternal health policies, challenges such as human resource shortages remained, stressing the need for an increased number of qualified midwives to meet the growing demand.
“Continuous professional development must be prioritised to ensure midwives are proficient in modern, evidence-based practices. The strengthening of midwifery systems also requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including government, healthcare institutions and communities,” she added.
Furthermore, she said a robust midwifery sector required strong partnerships, reiterating UNFPA's continuous commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health and forging a strategic alliance with the NMCB to ensure midwives received the necessary training, oversight and recognition to maintain the highest standards of maternal care. Through this collaboration, Ms Shilubane-Pietersen said UNFPA aimed to strengthen regulatory policies that empowered midwives, adding that investment in midwifery-led care was critical in improving maternal and childbirth outcomes.
“When midwives are equipped with appropriate resources, training and institutional support, their impact extends far beyond childbirth. They provide hope, health and the promise of a brighter future for families. So, let this day serve as an emphatic reminder that midwives are indispensable,” she said, emphasising that 'midwives save lives. Their work is the very essence of maternal healthcare, a vital link between safe pregnancies and healthy beginnings'. She commended the government and the NMCB for holding the first ever International Day of the Midwife to celebrate and recognise midwifery as a cornerstone of Botswana's healthcare system in ensuring an end to preventable maternal deaths. She noted that the inaugural event came after UNFPA supported the NMCB to participate in the 2024 SOWMY report dissemination workshop to learn from global best practices.
“Post the workshop, UNFPA is pleased to support the NMCB to strengthen Midwifery Regulation and Practice in Botswana, recognising that this strategic platform is critical for increasing collaboration for greater efficiencies,” she said.
The latest SOWMY findings, Ms Shilubane-Pietersen said, highlighted both the successes and the persistent challenges in midwifery care. She applauded NMCB for organising the event, which she described as a reflection of the council's commitment to taking decisive action to strengthen midwifery services in Botswana.
She also expressed delight that the commemoration, which was organised by the NMCB under the theme; Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis, brought together stakeholders to celebrate and acknowledge the unwavering dedication, expertise and compassion of midwives who ensured safe pregnancies and healthy deliveries.
The day's celebration, Ms Shilubane-Pietersen said, also provided an opportunity for more alignment and harmonising of strategies to enhance midwifery education, professional standards and quality healthcare delivery and to ensure that Botswana remained at the forefront of advancements in maternal and new-born health.
“Every woman everywhere deserves safe, respectful and high-quality care before, during and after pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. In Botswana, midwives play a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant mortality, offering support in communities where access to healthcare may be limited,” she added.
For that reason, the UNFPA head of office said her organisation's investment in midwifery was not merely a health strategy, but a fundamental commitment to the wellbeing of women, their families and future generations. ENDS