Midwives Can Help Avoid Over 90% of Maternal and Infant Deaths

In Timor-Leste, every single day, 19 women experience birth complications. Only 30% of births are attended by skilled health personnel. According to the State of the World Midwifery Report 2011, only 8 midwives are available for every 1,000 childbirths. Strengthening midwifery ensures the right of every woman to the best possible health care during pregnancy and childbirth, because it simply saves more lives.

In September, the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and UNFPA delivered a training workshop on leadership and advocacy skills for 30 midwives, from seven districts in Timor-Leste.

"Over 90 percent of maternal and infant deaths that occur could be avoided if skilled midwives are present during a woman's pregnancy and childbirth" said Mr. John M. Pile, UNFPA Representative in the opening ceremony of a training workshop for midwives in Timor-Leste.

The country has made significant progress during the past years to improve health care for mothers and newborns, especially through drawing the attention of policy makers, planners and donors to the critical role that midwives play in ensuring safe births and averting maternal and newborn deaths and disabilities.The current maternal mortality ratio in Timor-Leste is 557 deaths per 100,000 live births each year, but the trend is decreasing as the role of the midwives is highlighted in the health care system.

This year, 55 students graduated from UNTL Faculty of Midwifery programme and entered the midwifery profession and 25 more will be graduated by April 2014. These graduates serve as the members and leaders of the Midwives Association of Timor-Leste (APTL) in all 13 districts of the country and they will help strengthen three pillars of midwifery: education, association and regulation.

The UNFPA in Timor-Leste is committed to improve Reproductive Health through a wider programme, including Safe Motherhood, Family Planning and Adolescent Reproductive Health. This is to achieve the UNFPA vision -Delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

Related Documents: