UNFPA / MIDWIVES REPORT ADVANCER

In advance of the launch of the "State of the World's Midwifery Report 2011" on Monday (20 June), UNFPA's Executive Director Osotimehin Babatunde says that the report is "necessary to bring awareness to the importance and the centrality of midwifery skills to save the lives of mothers and children". UNFPA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:21
• Production Date: 18 June 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND - UNFPA
• Subject Topical: HEALTH SERVICES; MEDICINE; WOMEN'S RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN; LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC; UKRAINE
• MAMS Id: U110618b

Description

STORY: UNFPA / MIDWIVES REPORT ADVANCER
TRT: 2.21
SOURCE: UNFPA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 16 JUNE 2011, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE / APRIL 2011, SOUTH SUDAN

1. Pan right, exterior Juba School for Midwifery
2. Close up sign
3. Various shots, midwife caring for patient
4. Various shots, midwife cutting baby’s umbilical cord
5. Various shots, midwife attending for patient and listening baby’s heart beat

FILE / MAY 2011, LAOS

6. Wide shot, midwife arriving at patients home
7. Med shot, midwife with patient
8. Zoom in, patient looking out window
9. Med shot, midwife attending patient

16 JUNE 2011, NEW YORK CITY

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Osotimehin Babatunde, Executive Director, UNFPA:
“The State of the World Midwifery report of 2011 is necessary to bring awareness to the importance and the centrality of midwifery skills to save the lives of mothers and children. I think that’s the most important and this report has surveyed fifty eight countries, particularly in developing world of which twenty of them have adequate numbers of midwives. Whereas thirty eight, which is a larger number, do not have those skills available where they’re needed; more important -and I think in terms of the issues of equitable distribution where they do have them- they’re not where they’re most required. And I think that, you know, as we look at this report and as governments and member states look at it, it will inform them and give them a sense of what needs to be done in order to a, produce more people with skills and b, distribute them equitably so they can address the issues around maternal death and child health.”

FILE / 10 JUNE, 2011, TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN

11. Med shot, pregnant patient having her blood pressure taken
12. Close up, midwife monitoring baby’s heartbeat
13. Various shots, midwife attending pregnant patient

Storyline

Midwives have an essential role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal and newborn mortality. Yet today, the training of midwives is inconsistent and the profession of midwifery often garners little recognition, meager income, and limited career opportunities. These factors contribute to the acute shortage of these valuable health workers.

Moreover, the number of midwives falls far short of the need, and their services are unequally distributed among and within countries.

In advance of the launch of the United Nations population Fund (UNFPA) report “The State of the World's Midwifery”, to be launched on June 20th, 2011, at the 29th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives in Durban, South Africa, UNFPA’s Executive Director Osotimehin Babatunde said that the report “is necessary to bring awareness to the importance and the centrality of midwifery skills to save the lives of mothers and children.

Documenting the current situation is a first step toward meeting the needs of women around the world. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Report “The State of the World's Midwifery”, is the first comprehensive analysis of midwifery services and issues which provides new information and data gathered from 58 countries in all regions of the world.