Ladies and gentlemen,

The Stories of Midwives that UNFPA and White Ribbon Alliance have gathered give us a snapshot of the critical work that midwives do all over the world.

These stories demonstrate that midwives don’t just deliver babies – they save lives and deliver health to entire families and communities.

Every day about 1000 women in the world die due to pregnancy related causes. The vast majority of these deaths can be prevented when midwives and personnel with midwifery skills are authorized and supported by the health system to practice their full set of competencies.

Midwives and health workers with midwifery competencies are key in saving lives and improving women’s and children’s health worldwide.

Yet the State of the World’s Midwifery report shows that there is a gap of midwives in the world. Mothers, pregnant women and newborns are dying because the world does not have enough health workers with midwifery skills and often their distribution and level of training is uneven within countries.

Governments must make the necessary investments in women’s and children’s health by including midwifery services when costing their national health plans.

A health system that can deliver for women and newborns is a health system that can deliver for all.

Midwives and health workers with midwifery skills play a crucial role in our effort towards all three health MDGs – 4, 5 and 6, to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV and AIDS.

All pregnant women should have access to skilled care at the time of birth and after delivery. Without more human resources for maternal health, pregnant women and newborns will continue to die needlessly. The Stories of Midwives bear witness to this fact.

Lastly, I want to say to all midwives, thank you for your tireless work to make every pregnancy wanted, every birth safe and to promote the rights of every individual to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA stands by you on this mission.