“It is estimated that there were 303,000 maternal deaths in the world in 2015, and nearly all of the preventable deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries. Similarly, 2.7 million neonatal deaths and 2.6 million still births occurred across the world in 2015 mostly in low and middle-income countries. The region reduced its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 913 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 455 in 2015, representing a 50 per cent reduction, compared to 44 percent globally.” (Source: UN Maternal Mortality Estimate Interagency Group 2015 report). A well trained, competent, enabled and regulated health workforce is the corner stone of access to quality services.

The State of Midwifery Report is a global series of report that particularly examined the workforce responsible for provision of Sexual Reproductive Maternal, New-born and Adolescent (SRMAH) which was published globally in 2011 and 2014. The 2017 State of Midwifery Report for East and Southern Africa Region is part of this series of report, however focused on the 21 countries in the region.
To mark the release of the first series of East and Southern Africa State of Midwifery Report, UNFPA will be holding a launch and discussion on Wednesday 20 September 2017. The discussion will cover range of issues such as:

• Crucial policy issues related to health workforce education and regulation;
• Strengthening data on HRH to improve monitoring;
• Implication of the unique context in the region (high fertility, high HIV) in relation to the need for health workforce (number and skill) as well as distribution;
• Findings beyond availability focusing on midwives and midwifery training. It will highlight findings on why women and girls are not still getting optimum SRMNAH care even when the workforce is available (i.e. it looked at the quality, acceptability and accessibility aspect of SRMNAH care) ; and
• Display of Innovative Training simulators.

The study has been done over a course of a year, UNFPA ESA region lead the process while substantial technical contributions have been made by partners such as World Health Organization (WHO) East and Southern Africa Region, International Confederation Of Midwives (ICM), UNFPA HQ, UNFPA Arab States Regional Office, Jhpiego, University of Southampton and University of Technology Sydney.

Date: Wednesday 20 September 2017
Venue: Capital 20 West Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg.  
Time: 11:00 to 12:00.