Scaling up care by midwives must now be a global priority

Midwives have the potential to save lives of women and children at a scale unmatched by other health interventions. In The Lancet Global Health, Andrea Nove and colleagues1Nove A Friberg IK de Bernis L et al.Potential impact of midwives in preventing and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and stillbirths: a Lives Saved Tool modelling study.Lancet Glob Health. 2020; (published online Dec 1.)https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30397-1Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (15) Google Scholar estimated that 67% of maternal deaths, 64% of neonatal deaths, and 65% of stillbirths in the 88 low-income and middle-income countries accounting for the vast majority of these deaths could be averted. The solution? Universal provision of care by midwives who meet international standards and are integrated into…