The observance of the International Day of the Midwife (IDM) in Grand Bassa County on May 5, 2025, provided the platform for stakeholders to advance and amplify the incredible contributions of midwives in safeguarding maternal and newborn health in Liberia.
Organized by the Liberia Midwives Association (LMA) with support from UNFPA, the event at Buchanan City Hall brought together various stakeholders, including midwives, healthcare practitioners, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), government officials, civil society, media and development partners. The central theme of the gathering underscored the necessity of not only recognizing the invaluable contributions of these frontline healthcare workers but also actively involving them in national decision-making processes concerning maternal and newborn health.
Madam Vera Johnson, a University Lecturer who served as the keynote speaker of the occasion emphasized the crucial contribution of midwives in meeting maternal and newborn health outcomes, stating, “The first person that meets and greets a new life is the midwife. Who else can make a better decision about maternal and newborn health if not the midwife?” Her words reinforced the unique position and expertise of midwives in ensuring positive maternal newborn health outcomes.
The call to include midwives into national decision-making was consistent throughout the programme, as raised by the various speakers.
Dr. Jude Gardea Whesseh, the Grand Bassa County Health Officer, representing the Ministry of Health, issued a compelling call to action, asserting, “To reduce maternal mortality from double figures to single figures, we must ensure that midwives are trained and empowered to reach every mother and newborn.” His statement underscores the critical link between investing in midwifery education and empowerment and achieving reductions in maternal mortality rates, reinforcing the interest of UNFPA.
Recently, UNFPA supported the Liberia Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM) to develop a digital platform with online resources for continuous learning and an online portal for licensure renewal, examination information, and student indexing that supports nurses and midwives' career growth. The availability of the digital platform significantly improved the LBNM's capacity to implement its mandate to enforce standards and quality assure the work of nurses and midwives in Liberia.
The vital role of TBAs in Liberia's maternal healthcare landscape was also brought into focus through a profound statement by Madam Lacy B. Joe, head of the TBAs. Representing the approximately 390 TBAs operating across Liberia, she highlighted their crucial work in remote and hard-to-reach areas where access to qualified midwives is limited or nonexistent.
“We are the ones in towns and villages, where midwives are not present. We are in the hard-to-reach locations, supporting pregnant women with sexual and reproductive education and supporting expectant mothers to reach midwives and deliver their babies safely,” Madam Lacy B. Joe underlined the importance of involving midwives in national discourse around maternal and newborn health and investing in midwifery. The TBAs serve as vital link in the healthcare sector, providing necessary maternal and newborn health support in locations where midwives are absent, facilitating access to midwives.
Mrs. Woseh Gobeh-Weah, UNFPA’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialist reiterated the agency’s conviction that midwives are central to achieving global reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) goals. She pointed out that the meaningful involvement of midwives in national discussions and decisions around maternal health is important for shaping policies and implementing national agendas on maternal and newborn health. Mrs. Gobeh-Weah stated that UNFPA believes Liberia can set actual and realistic RMNCAH targets when midwives are included on the decision-making table.
Liberia aims to reduce 742 deaths per 100,000 live births to 440 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2029, as envisaged in the country’s National Development Plan. Achieving this goal requires smart and sustained investments in midwifery, including their inclusion in policymaking decisions.
UNFPA stands with the world in recognizing the courage, resilience, and profound empathy that midwives in Liberia and around the world demonstrate daily through their counseling and compassionate care for mothers and newborns.
