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Why
Midwives

Midwives Are Central to Maternal Survival

Midwives are among the most effective and evidence-based investments in maternal and newborn health.

A trained midwife does far more than deliver babies. Midwives provide prenatal care, identify high-risk pregnancies, monitor maternal and fetal health, educate mothers, support safe delivery, recognize complications early, coordinate emergency referrals, and provide postpartum care for both mother and baby.

In many rural communities in Malawi, midwives are the primary — and sometimes only — skilled maternal healthcare providers available to women.

When mothers have access to skilled midwifery care, maternal and newborn survival improves dramatically.

Malawi Faces a Severe Midwifery Workforce Shortage

Malawi faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in maternal health. Public health facilities often operate with overwhelming patient loads and limited staffing, especially in rural districts.

This shortage contributes to delays in care, provider burnout, overcrowded maternity wards, and preventable maternal and infant deaths.

Midwives Save Lives addresses this challenge directly by investing in the next generation of midwives through academic scholarships tied to public service commitments after graduation.

By helping train and retain skilled maternal healthcare workers, we aim to strengthen the healthcare system from within.

Respectful Maternity
Care Matters

Safe childbirth is not only about clinical care — it is also about dignity.

Women deserve compassionate, respectful, and culturally sensitive care throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Respectful maternity care helps build trust in health systems, increases utilization of prenatal services, and improves outcomes for mothers and babies alike.

Midwives are uniquely positioned to provide continuity of care and support women during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Prevention and Emergency Response Must Work Together

Reducing maternal deaths requires both prevention and timely emergency response.

That is why Midwives Save Lives combines:

  • Prenatal Kits
  • Malaria Prevention Tools
  • Maternal Health Education
  • Emergency Transport Solutions
  • and Midwifery Workforce Development

We believe maternal survival improves when communities have both early preventive support and access to skilled emergency care when complications arise.

Building Stronger Systems for Mothers

We are not building parallel systems.

Midwives Save Lives partners alongside local hospitals, universities, healthcare leaders, and communities to strengthen existing maternal healthcare systems in sustainable ways.

Our work is centered on one belief:

Every mother deserves access to skilled, timely, and compassionate care — no matter where she lives.