BALI, Indonesia, 14 June 2023 - Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem, joined more than 2,300 midwives, maternal health advocates, and healthcare professionals from around the world, at the 33rd International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Triennial Congress in Bali, Indonesia. The congress, held from 11- 14 June, aims to address critical issues in maternal health care and highlight the indispensable role of midwives in saving lives, including during humanitarian crises.
ICM’s Congress comes at a time when alarming statistics reveal that every two minutes, a woman or girl loses her life due to pregnancy-related complications. While there have been successes in reducing maternal mortality, progress has stagnated. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with rising poverty and worsening humanitarian crises, has added immense pressure to already stretched health systems. These circumstances underscore the vital importance of midwives in delivering life-saving interventions.
In her remarks at the opening ceremony, Dr. Kanem highlighted the role of midwives as critical service providers at the front lines of maternal health care. "Through COVID, conflict, and climate disasters, midwives stand by women — often with few resources or facing discrimination, sexual harassment, and unequal pay. Courageous midwives are out on the humanitarian front lines, risking their lives to shield women in the toughest of circumstances." said Dr. Kanem.
UNFPA played a leading role at the ICM Triennial Congress, stressing the urgent need for international solidarity and funding to support midwives on the ground, including providing them with accreditation, education, and professionalization. Dr. Kanem underscored UNFPA's commitment to midwives globally and shared innovative initiatives such as Partera Vital, a mobile app that offers vital guidance to midwives in Colombia's Chocó region, and mobile teams in Afghanistan ensuring safe deliveries despite perilous conditions. These initiatives demonstrate how midwives are crucial in understanding their communities' needs and delivering compassionate and life-saving care.
During her official visit to Indonesia, Dr. Kanem also visited the local hospital in Bali, Prima Medika, where she witnessed comprehensive contraceptive options offered through hospital-based family planning services. The hospital is one of the 34 centers of excellence for family planning in Indonesia, part of the public-private partnerships that the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and UNFPA foster to ensure a full range of modern contraceptive choices are available for women, free of charge.
Engaging with the healthcare professionals at the hospital, Dr. Kanem emphasized the importance of the inclusion and leadership of midwives in the health system. She also commended BKKBN for their role in promoting family wellbeing and quality family planning services for all, and congratulated them for the World Population Award received in 2022.
Another highlight of Dr. Kanem’s visit to Indonesia was the meeting held with the newly appointed UNFPA Indonesia Champion, Ms. Ayu Saraswati, well-known as the 2020 Putri Indonesia (Indonesian national pageant) of Environment. Ms. Saraswati is also a social media influencer, entrepreneur, as well as an advocate for environmental and gender issues. Dr. Kanem and UNFPA’s Champion exchanged views about the critical role that young people play in protecting the environment, promoting sexual and reproductive health, as well as advancing gender equality. They also discussed ideas for future collaboration to amplify the voices of youth and advocate for women and young people’s rights.
For more information, please contact:
Iman Morooka, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office, morooka@unfpa.org
Rahmi Dian Agustino, UNFPA Indonesia Country Office, agustino@unfpa.org
About UNFPA:
UNFPA is the UN sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA works in more than 150 countries and territories to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
In Indonesia, UNFPA has been working since 1972 in partnership with both governmental and non-governmental partners, to promote reproductive health and rights for women and young people, gender equality, and support population and development matters in the country. For more information, visit https://indonesia.unfpa.org/
