One hundred and twenty participants have gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, to enable an exchange between countries in the UNFPA Asia-Pacific region on the issues facing the midwifery workforce. The meeting will also mark the regional launch of the State of the World’s Midwifery 2014: A Universal Pathway, A Woman’s Right to Health (SoWMy2014).

The SoWMy2014 report covers 14 countries in the region and presents a detailed analysis of the maternal and newborn health workforce, including midwives, nurses, physicians and OB/GYNs. It illustrates that the issues facing the midwifery workforce differ widely across the region. As the populations grow in many countries, it is all the more vital that governments and the H4+ UN partner agencies (UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO, and the World Bank), are aware of the data, challenges and possible solutions for improving the availability, acceptability and quality of midwifery services in the coming years.

The workshop brings together key stakeholders from Asia and the Pacific to work on these issues and carve out a path going forward. Participants will share their experiences on the SoWMy2014, discuss the findings from last year’s Lancet Series on Midwifery, and share best practices in the area of midwifery workforce development and management.

Links:
The International Confederation of Midwives
Lancet Series on Midwifery
World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia 
World Health Organization Western Pacific Region
H4+ Joint Partnership