Good afternoon,

It is my pleasure to welcome all of you here today.

I am a medical doctor by training. And it is a real honour to be with so many midwives!

As midwives, you bring care to mothers and families. You are central to a strong health workforce and health system.

I thank you for all the good work you are doing to protect the health of every woman and every child. It is wonderful to be here with all of you today.

Dr. Horton, I also want to thank you for your welcome remarks and for the good work you are doing at the Lancet to promote public health. The Lancet is much more than a medical journal with the latest scientific evidence, it is a voice for every person for the right to health.

Today the right to health is denied to 800 women who die every day from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Deaths that can be prevented.

Today the right to health is denied to 215 million women who want to plan and space their births but lack access to information and services for family planning.

Today the right to health is denied to some 2 million women who suffer from the devastating condition of obstetric fistula. This childbirth injury was eliminated in wealthy countries more than a century ago but continues to afflict poor women who lack access to quality medical care.

My friends,

We are gathered here today because we know we CAN and WILL do better.

Today we are launching the State of the World’s Midwifery 2011, the first report of its kind since 1976.

All of us at UNFPA are very proud to be engaged with this report and the global movement for midwifery.

Some 30 organizations are engaged in the State of the World’s Midwifery initiative, which makes it one of the global initiatives with the greatest number of partners.

I would like to thank all partners, including the UNFPA country offices, the governments of the 58 countries, and the 450+ contributors who have made the Report so comprehensive and compelling.

We all agree that the world needs more midwives and health workers with midwifery skills to save the lives of women and newborns.

Heatlh workers with midwifery skills are central to the achievement of all three health-related MDGs – 4, 5 and 6—to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

For our part at UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, we are supporting midwifery as a priority.

Since 2008, we’ve been working with the International Confederation of Midwives in some 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Through the programme, we have strengthened and equipped over 60 midwifery schools in some 23 countries; and set up new midwifery associations.

This global partnership for midwifery is accelerating progress for the UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. More than 40 countries have made pledges to improve the health of every woman and every child, and many are focusing on strengthening the training and deployment of midwives and others with midwifery skills.

Momentum is building and it is exciting!

Every woman deserves access to skilled care during pregnancy and delivery. It is their right and our responsibility. Together we must safeguard every woman and child so they may live to their full potential.

Thank you.