UNFPA on Tuesday joined national celebrations of the International Day of the Midwife. Marking this year’s theme “The world needs a million more midwives” Bangladesh’s context underscores both progress and urgency. While more than 11,000 licensed midwives are currently serving, the country needs at least 25,000 to ensure coverage across all union-level health facilities. The Government of Bangladesh’s commitment to recruit more new health workers presents a significant opportunity to accelerate midwife deployment nationwide.
Addressing the event, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Catherine Breen Kamkong reflected on the critical role midwives play in saving lives and supporting families.
“Across Bangladesh, I have seen midwives working in some of the most challenging conditions, often alone, with limited resources, yet carrying the responsibility of two lives at once,” she said. “We must not only expand the number of midwives, but ensure they are supported, equipped, and valued to provide safe, respectful and dignified care.”
A key highlight of the event was the National Midwives Awards, where five outstanding practitioners were recognized for their dedication to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, including service delivery in hard-to-reach areas and innovative approaches to expanding care. In parallel, five early-career midwives were inducted into the Young Midwives Leadership Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening leadership and advancing the midwifery profession and maternal care in Bangladesh.
“Midwives are at the heart of safe motherhood and reproductive rights. Today we honour the midwives that are giving their service to women in the communities and bring dignity, hope, and change the trajectory of a village, community, and entire Bangladesh. When we invest in midwives, we invest in healthier families, stronger communities, and a more resilient health system,” said Catherine Breen Kamkong.
The celebrations, held earlier on Tuesday at Dhaka Nursing College, brought together government officials, professional bodies, development partners, and midwives from across the country. The event featured a rally reaffirming collective commitment to strengthening Bangladesh’s midwifery workforce and ensuring that no woman is left behind during pregnancy and childbirth.