The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for increased financial and programmatic investment in midwifery to help reduce maternal and newborn mortality in Bauchi State and across Nigeria.

The appeal was made during a one-day lecture to mark the International Day of the Midwife on Monday for 200 Aliko Dangote College of Nursing Sciences students in Bauchi.

UNFPA executive director Natalia Kanem noted that midwives play a crucial role in delivering up to 90 per cent of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health services, including family planning.

Ms Kanem, represented by the state programme officer, Deborah Tabara, said that with adequate support, midwifery services could avert two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths.

“We urge governments and donors to join UNFPA and partners in the Midwifery Accelerator Initiative, which seeks to boost investment in midwives and the systems that support them,” she said.

She described the initiative as a global effort by UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and Jhpiego.

Ms Kanem said the initiative aimed to integrate midwifery models into national health systems to reduce preventable deaths and complications.

She also stressed the importance of collaboration in strengthening the health workforce, particularly during emergencies.

“Midwives save lives, not just by providing maternal care but also by supporting survivors of gender-based violence, which increases during crises,” she said.

She added that integrating midwives into humanitarian and disaster response plans was a cost-effective and life-saving strategy.

Ms Kanem said that despite their vital contributions, midwives often faced significant risks when working in remote or crisis-affected communities, and the profession remained under-recognised.

Also speaking at the event, Yusuf Robinson, a facilitator, highlighted the central role of midwives in delivering maternal, child, and reproductive health services.

He noted that a shortage of health personnel remained a major challenge to healthcare delivery.

Topics discussed at the event included mental health and gender-based violence, with the goal of equipping midwifery students with the skills necessary to operate effectively in crisis settings.

UNFPA organised the programme in collaboration with the Bauchi State Ministry of Health. The event was themed “Critical in Every Crisis.”

(NAN)