UNFPA, MAZ gang up against women, new-borns deaths

UNFPA, MAZ gang up against women, new-borns deaths

By Tony Nkhoma

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Midwives Association of Zambia (MAZ) have signed an agreement to strengthen the role of midwives in saving lives particularly in humanitarian emergencies.

The new partnership focuses on building midwives’ capacity to deliver life-saving care through the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) and Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC), while supporting advocacy for greater investment in midwifery-led primary health care.

UNFPA Zambia Representative Seth Broekman said the partnership had come at a critical moment, with the midwifery profession providing up to 90 per cent of essential Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) services.

In a statement, Broekman said midwives were in the front line of care and often the only health providers women saw during pregnancy and childbirth, especially in times of a crisis.

“UNFPA and MAZ are acting to ensure that more midwives are trained, equipped and empowered to meet women’s and new-borns’ needs, even in the most difficult circumstances,” Broekman said.

MAZ president Sarah Ngoma expressed gratitude to UNFPA for supporting the association’s efforts to advocate for increased domestic investment in midwifery and to amplify midwives’ voices in national health policies.

“By strengthening MAZ’s ability to mobilise support and resources, the partnership aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of midwifery services across the country. This collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship between UNFPA and MAZ,” she said.

Ngoma said MAZ was committed to using the funds wisely to enhance Zambia’s midwifery workforce and improve maternal and new-born health outcomes.

“Through this agreement, MAZ will roll out targeted training on MISP and EmONC, focusing on critical skills like safe delivery, antenatal and postnatal care and emergency response during natural disasters and health crises. These services are critical in protecting the lives of mothers and babies during emergencies,” Ngoma said.

Zambia has made commendable progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, strengthening the midwifery workforce and expanding access to essential services.

In the last three decades, maternal mortality rates have reduced by 75 per cent, from 752 in 1994 to 187 per 100,000 in 2024.

However, despite this progress, the gain falls short of the government’s goal to reduce maternal mortality to 100 by 2021.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) global target for maternal mortality by 2030 is the reduction by the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.