Africa: Midwives - the Workforce That Will Determine Maternal and Newborn Survival and Africa's Future

What the report says

AllAfrica published an Inter Press Service opinion piece on 7 September 2026 arguing that midwives are central to reducing maternal and newborn deaths across Africa. Written by Diene Keita and Jean Kaseya, the article says the continent still accounts for more than 70 percent of maternal deaths worldwide, even though maternal mortality has fallen since 2000. It says most deaths are preventable and are often linked to delays in seeking, reaching, or receiving care, as well as weak facility readiness and emergency response.

The piece says midwives already provide a large share of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services, especially in underserved communities, but remain underfunded and unevenly deployed. Citing comparable WHO and UNFPA data, it says only four of 51 reporting African countries meet the WHO benchmark for midwifery staffing, while many trained midwives are unemployed. The authors argue that the core challenge is not only training more workers, but also integrating, retaining, and placing them where they are needed most.

The article ties the issue to broader African health policy, including Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s role as AU Champion on Maternal and Child Health and Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership on community health workers. It says investment in midwifery could improve survival, strengthen health systems, and create formal jobs for women. As background, the article presents this as part of a wider push for people-centered primary care and stronger referral and emergency systems.