Marking International Day of the Midwife, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Thursday said in a statement that it would renew its commitment to work with national and global partners in Libya.
It said that the UNFPA commitment with Libya was to increase the number of midwives and to enhance their skills and abilities in midwifery.
“On this day, the UNFPA, Libya office, salutes the contribution of the Libyan midwives and the caring mothers who have worked to save the lives of women, girls and newborn babies.
“For caring for those under very difficult circumstances, in hard-to-reach communities and in humanitarian emergencies,” the agency said.
It called on the State of Libya, especially the Ministry of Health, to acclaim and reward midwives, especially those working in challenging and hard-to-reach areas, where their services are most needed.
“We also urge the State to invest in continuous quality training, good working conditions and decent salaries.
“Government should also develop adequate workforce policies and possibilities for professional growth in this vital sector,” the statement said.
It emphasised that well-trained and supported midwives working in communities were uniquely positioned to provide the compassionate, respectful and sensitive care Libyan women needed during pregnancy and childbirth and a newborn child needed during the critical first month of life.
According to the agency, increasing the number of midwives and spreading their presence in any country, is an indication of the caring of the country to its wives, its daughters, and its children.
“UNFPA is helping to train and support thousands of midwives in more than 100 countries.
“ A recent survey estimated that in 57 of these countries, UNFPA has trained 66,000 midwives over the past seven years,” said UNFPA Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin.
He said these critical health-care providers could help more than 11 million women to give birth safely each year, but much more needed to be done.