UNFPA Launches Midwife Training To Tackle Maternal Deaths In Sokoto

Dr Rabiatu Sageer, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State Team Lead, said UNFPA has initiated a community midwife training sponsorship to produce indigenous manpower for reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Sokoto State.

Sageer disclosed this on Thursday during her presentation at the 8th Sokoto State Council on Health (SCH) meeting, organised by the state government in collaboration with UNFPA.
She emphasised that sourcing skilled birth attendants from within each community to cater for their respective needs was the solution to the shortage of workers, as deploying them from other areas often disrupts service delivery.

“The initiative is designed for rural, hard-to-reach, and security-affected communities across Sokoto State where deployment of healthcare workers from urban centres has become a challenge.

“The scheme, tagged ‘Community Midwifery Scholarship and Bonding Scheme in Sokoto State,’ is funded by the European Union (EU).

“Under the initiative, 500 women and girls in rural areas will receive full scholarship to study community midwifery and, after graduation, be deployed back to their respective communities to serve.

“Midwives can avert about 60 per cent of maternal and newborn deaths, and stillbirths, with universal coverage of midwifery services and family planning, she said.

According to her, investigations have proven that midwifery models of care are cost-effective and sustainable solution, as every dollar invested in care provided by midwives delivers a 16-fold return in economic and social benefits.

Sageer stressed that midwives provide women-centred, respectful care that prevents complications and reduces unnecessary medical interventions.

She emphasised the need for a global coalition for governments and partners to align on shared goals and strategies toward integrating midwifery models of care as a cornerstone of the health system and a sustainable investment.

The Team Lead added that combined efforts would strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks, increase global and domestic investment, and enhance quality education and professional development.
She said the system would ensure the retention of midwives by creating safe, supportive, and accountable workplaces through strategic, data-driven workforce planning and community engagement.

Sageer recalled her experience of facing complications during childbirth three consecutive times, undergoing caesarean sections and other complications.

She said the painful experience further motivated her to contribute toward reducing the hardship faced by women, especially in rural communities where skilled birth attendants were completely absent.