UNFPA Pakistan and Health Services Academy Commemorates International Day of the Midwife 2025
Islamabad: Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSR&C) said government, with support from UNFPA and partners, is investing in midwifery education and workforce development. The launch of the BS Midwifery program at HSA, with over 100 students already enrolled, is a promising step.
Dr. Nelson Azeem emphasized that the Government of Pakistan remains firmly committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Midwives are the backbone of maternal and newborn healthcare, especially in rural and humanitarian settings. Their role becomes even more critical in crisis situations where access to healthcare is disrupted,” he stated.
Pakistan faces a shortage of midwives and health workers, especially in underserved areas. Midwives are essential, particularly in crisis situations, delivering up to 90% of critical maternal and newborn care services.
The Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with UNFPA Pakistan and Health Services Academy, commemorated the International Day of the Midwife (IDM) 2025 under the global theme “Midwives: Critical in Every Crisis.”
The event brought together key government officials, development partners, midwifery educators, and healthcare professionals to honor the vital contributions of midwives, particularly in times of conflict, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises.
The commemoration began with a welcome address by Dr. Mariyam Sarfraz, Associate Professor and Dean School of Nursing and midwifery, HSA, followed by a special message from the UNFPA Assistant Representative Pakistan, Dr. Rubina Anwar reaffirming UNFPA’s continued support to Pakistan’s midwifery agenda.
The theme of IDM 2025 highlights the indispensable role midwives play in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Globally, midwives are equipped to deliver up to 90% of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (SRMNAH) services. In Pakistan’s context where maternal and neonatal mortality remains a significant public health concern midwives often serve as the only accessible providers in remote and underserved areas.
The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Mariyam Sarfraz, with expert panelists from the Ministry of Health, academia, service delivery sectors, and development partners. The discussion explored strategies to integrate midwifery more effectively into national health security frameworks and to build a resilient, gender-equitable health system.
Among the distinguished panelists was Dr. Sabeen Afzal, Director Regulations, MoNHSR&C, who shared insights on the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to institutionalize midwifery as a critical workforce in emergency and routine health systems. She highlighted the recently developed National Implementation Framework for Strengthening Midwifery Services in Pakistan, which provides strategic direction for workforce development, deployment, regulation, and quality assurance particularly in fragile and crisis affected settings.
“Ensuring midwives are adequately trained, deployed, and protected by policy is a top priority for sustainable and equitable health service delivery,” she noted.
“This program is more than academic training it is a transformative effort to empower women, improve maternal health outcomes, and promote health equity,” said the Parliamentary Secretary.
In the end, the participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the midwifery profession in Pakistan and ensuring that every woman, everywhere even in the most fragile circumstances has access to skilled, compassionate care.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
