The United Nations Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child Strategy (2010) highlighted the need for “stronger health systems with sufficient health workers at their core”. Governments recognize that returns on investing in human resources with midwifery skills are enormous. When empowered, fully trained, well equipped and authorized to practice all essential basic lifesaving competencies, midwives can help avert two thirds of maternal and newborn deaths (MDGs 4 and 5).
Since the launch of the 2010 State of the World’s Midwifery Report, over 35 countries have made national pledges to strengthen midwifery.