The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for urgent investment in midwives, warning that strengthening the midwifery workforce remains one of the most effective ways to end preventable maternal deaths in the country and across the world.
Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of the Midwife 2026 held at The George Hotel, UNFPA Eswatini Officer-in-Charge Thamary Silindza said midwives remained at the heart of maternal and newborn health and survival.
Commemorated under the theme ‘One Million More Midwives,’ the event celebrated the dedication and contribution of midwives in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of women, newborns and families.
Silindza said the global call for one million more midwives highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the profession, noting that empowered midwives had the capacity to save and improve millions of lives each year.
Quoting UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita’s International Day of the Midwife message, Silindza said investing in one million more midwives globally could help save over four million lives annually.
She said the kingdom had made notable progress in reducing preventable maternal deaths, with institutional maternal deaths declining from 33 in 2021 to 23 in 2024.
According to Silindza, the improvements reflected continued investments in maternal health systems, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care and the unwavering dedication of midwives who continued to save lives daily.
She said midwives provide far more than assistance during childbirth, as they offer essential care and support throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the recovery period to ensure safe deliveries and healthy outcomes for both mothers and babies.
Silindza further highlighted that the country currently records 93.4% skilled birth attendance, 96% coverage for at least one antenatal care visit and 87.5% postnatal care coverage.
While describing the figures as encouraging, she cautioned that progress had not reached everyone equally, adding that behind the statistics were mothers, families and communities whose lives had been permanently affected.
She stressed that supporting midwives should go beyond commemorating the profession and should include sustained investment in midwifery education, recruitment, deployment, leadership and continuous professional development.
Silindza also called for improved working conditions for healthcare workers, strengthened emergency obstetric and newborn care services, availability of essential medicines and equipment, and greater support for the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers. She said UNFPA remained committed to its vision of ensuring that every pregnancy was wanted, every childbirth was safe and every young person’s potential was fulfilled.
Paying tribute to midwives across the country, Silindza thanked them for the sacrifices they continued to make, including spending long nights on duty, comforting anxious mothers and advocating for dignity in care.
She said the contribution of midwives extended beyond saving lives, as they also played a vital role in building stronger communities and a more prosperous nation.
Silindza urged stakeholders to renew their collective commitment towards ensuring that no woman died while giving life and that every midwife was empowered, supported and valued.
“Because when midwives thrive, women thrive. And when women thrive, nations prosper,” she said.
