In commemoration of 2025 International Day of Midwife, consortium of partners and CSOs have called on relevant authorities to prioritize the empowerment of dedicated midwives on the frontline in order to put an end to recurring cases of maternal deaths.
According to a Press Statement signed and issued by the AIM-MNCNH partners, earlier today:
“Today, on the 2025 International Day of the Midwife, we stand united as a consortium of partners, advocates and practitioners under the Advocacy and Implementation of MNCNH Innovations (AIM MNCNH) in Nigeria led by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP) in partnership with the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Pathfinder International Nigeria and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) to spotlight the irreplaceable role midwives play in saving lives, and to issue an urgent call to action.
This year, the AIM-MNCNH Consortium is proud to commemorate the day under the campaign theme: “Midwives: Critical in Every Maternal Crisis – Frontline Heroes Against Postpartum Haemorrhage.” This theme aligns with the global theme, Midwives: Critical in Every Maternal Crisis, and reflects Nigeria’s urgent maternal health priorities especially the fight against postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal deaths in the country.
In Nigeria, over 1,000 women die per 100,000 live births — a staggering toll, largely driven by PPH, a condition that is both preventable and treatable.
Yet, too many midwives remain on the frontlines without the tools, training, or support they need to stop the bleeding and save lives.
Midwives are often the only providers of skilled care for women during childbirth, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
They are the ones who stay up through the night with labouring mothers, who improvise when systems fail, and who fight for life in conditions no health worker should ever face.
The AIM MNCNH Innovations Consortium is calling for bold, coordinated action to transform this unacceptable reality.
At the heart of our advocacy is the E-MOTIVE strategy — a WHO-endorsed, evidence-based clinical care bundle proven to reduce severe PPH by up to 60%.
It includes E-MOTIVE: E- Early detection of postpartum haemorrhage; M- Massage of uterus; O- Oxytocic drug; T- Tranexamic acid; IV- IV fluids; E- Examination of the genital tract + Escalation- all delivered together.
Dr. Amina Aminu Dorayi, Senior Country Director of Pathfinder International Nigeria, emphasized that, “Midwives are not just health workers — they are lifelines. We cannot celebrate them without committing to equip, protect, and empower them to save lives.
”This year’s campaign emphasizes the urgency of scaling this intervention and supporting those at the forefront of maternal health which are midwives.
“We need to be champions for Maternal Health. Let’s provide or advocate for supplies and resources. Please add your voice,” urged Prof. Rosemary Ogu, National President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN).
We issue the following unified call to action:
To the Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA:
- Prioritize national adoption and scale-up of the E-MOTIVE strategy in all maternity care settings.
- Invest in training, recruitment, and equitable deployment of midwives, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
- Improve working conditions, ensure timely compensation, and institutionalize professional pathways that enable midwives to lead and thrive.
To Development Partners and Donors:
- Fund scalable, context-driven innovations that empower midwives and improve maternal outcomes.
- Support supply chains and systems that ensure consistent access to lifesaving tools like those in the E-MOTIVE bundle.
To Communities and Families:
- Choose skilled birth attendants.
- Support your midwives and healthcare workers.
- Know the signs of maternal complications and seek care early.
To the Media:
- Amplify the voices of midwives.
- Help shift maternal mortality from being seen as inevitable to being wholly unacceptable.
- Hold systems accountable through continued coverage and storytelling.
Midwives are not asking for applause. They are asking for policy, tools, support, and protection. Together, we can make 2025 a turning point in Nigeria’s fight to end preventable maternal deaths. Together, we can protect our mothers — and support the midwives who care for them.
“Effective communication and consistent advocacy are vital pillars for midwifery care. Invest to build a resilient health system that motivates our midwives to do more. Play your part, support our midwives they are our frontline champions against Postpartum Haemorrhage” said Babafunke Fagbemi, Executive Director, Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI)