Remarks by Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director at the CPD58 High-Level Side Event: Improving Health and Well-being for Women and Newborns

Excellencies,
Esteemed delegates, 
Dearest colleagues,
Dear community leaders and young people,

Greetings of peace, the noble pursuit of the United Nations and the fervent desire of every woman and girl that UNFPA serves in over 150 locations.

We meet at a time when our shared mission of peace, human rights and development is more vital than ever; and where we count on people of goodwill like you for solidarity in forging a brighter future.

As we face a world of unprecedented challenges, among the most profound is the continued injustice of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth, often from entirely preventable causes.

How can it be, that in this day and age, each and every two minutes, a woman dies from complications in pregnancy or childbirth? And in places affected by conflict, maternal mortality more than doubles. 

These are not just numbers; they are real lives.

Let me tell you what I heard from Aicha, a young woman displaced from a traditional village in Cameroon after repeated flooding and then violence by armed groups. She confided: “I am so scared for the baby in my womb and for myself”.

Pull back the curtain and behind every maternal death you will find a clinic that didn’t have essential medicines, a community without skilled midwives, and a crisis putting basic human care out of reach.

With never-ending conflicts, growing economic uncertainty, and more frequent climate disasters, women’s health needs are surging – and that’s happening as resources and political will seem to be far less reliable.

Yet we know that major progress is possible. Change happens when we mobilize the full weight of local communities joined by the international community. 

Changed happened over the past 25 years, during which the world saw a remarkable 40 percent drop in global maternal mortality. 

And while progress slowed more recently, there has been a 10 percent decline in maternal deaths since 2015. Let me emphasize that the most gains were made in the least developed countries. Progress is possible!

Even with setbacks from Covid-19, we are beginning to get back on track in most countries.

Three powerful examples stand out – Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Nepal.

Through impressive government leadership and strategic investments, Tanzania cut maternal mortality by 79 percent, Sierra Leone by 52 percent, and Nepal by one third.

Seeing is believing. Tangible progress follows when countries prioritize women’s health. This means thousands of lives saved, mothers and their babies poised for a healthier future.

Importantly, we have the tools to replicate this success. We have cost-effective, evidence-based strategies. We know what works.

This is all good news. Yet let’s not rest on our laurels while steep funding cuts right now are forcing countries to roll back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health – putting fragile gains at risk.

We need to go further and we certainly need to go faster.

Native American wisdom tell us: We will be known forever for the tracks we leave.

Now is the time to expand all of the proven interventions that we have at hand. Now is the time to ensure equitable access to quality care, especially for any woman who is poor, because she is the one too often left behind.

Here is where the transformative power of midwives shines bright. 

Midwives save lives!

With proper investment in the midwifery profession, did you know that midwives could deliver up to 90 percent of essential sexual and reproductive health services? That includes vital antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. 

What’s more, every dollar poured into midwifery yields a 16-fold return in economic and social benefits. That’s an outstanding return on investment and a financially sustainable solution all around.

• Midwifery care significantly reduces mother and newborn complications.
• Midwives are leaders. They are embedded in communities, and therefore better able to reach remote and marginalized groups. That’s the path to bridging the inequalities that fuel maternal deaths.
• Midwives provide holistic care that respects women’s preferences and minimizes medical interventions. They improve the overall experience of childbirth and are a trusted, stabilizing force within their communities.

I tell you all of this so that you understand that we must act to end the global shortage of nearly one million midwives. 

The largely female midwifery workforce, unfortunately, remains persistently under-recognized, under-utilized, and under-funded – despite all the overwhelming and longstanding evidence in support of the midwifery model of care.

That is why UNFPA, with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), WHO, UNICEF and other terrific partners, are so proud to launch the Midwifery Accelerator. Thank goodness we now have a global blueprint and a fearless coalition to close the midwifery gap and hasten progress towards ending maternal and newborn deaths by 2030.

Our unwavering promise is to educate, deploy, retain and empower midwives. Because every woman, everywhere deserves safe, respectful, quality care when she brings life into this world. And a strong, well-resourced midwifery workforce defines the pathway to success.

You know, safe birth is no longer a technical challenge; rather it is a political choice. Governments hold the power to enact policies, allocate critical resources, and build robust health systems that protect and safeguard lives. 

I urge Member States to prioritize and set measurable reproductive, maternal, and newborn health targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNFPA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this critical endeavour.

The survival and well-being of every woman and every newborn is no less than the foundation of strong families, resilient communities and prosperous societies.

Again, we will be known forever for the tracks we leave.

So let us galvanize our collective will and stand united in our complete, interconnected humanity.

The status quo is done; it is over. Let us seize this moment for resolute action. Let us create a world where everyone has the opportunity to not just survive, but to thrive and flourish in their full potential.