Awareness Day

International Day of the Midwife

May 5, 2026 Recurs yearly

Midwives supporting maternal and newborn healthcare in a community setting.

2026 Theme

One Million More Midwives

Campaign Description

Observed annually on 5 May and coordinated by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), this day recognizes midwives' role in safe, respectful maternal and newborn care and advocates for stronger investment in the profession.

Theme Focus

“One Million More Midwives” focuses on the urgent need to expand and strengthen the global midwifery workforce. ICM estimates that approximately one million additional midwives are needed worldwide to meet essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health needs.

The campaign emphasizes that increasing the number of midwives is not simply about filling workforce vacancies. Midwives also need to be properly educated, regulated, fairly compensated, adequately resourced and enabled to practise to their full scope. When midwives can provide appropriate care within supportive health systems, women, newborns and families can benefit from more accessible, respectful and continuous care.

Key Priorities

  • Increase the global midwifery workforce by approximately one million midwives
  • Invest in high-quality midwifery education and skills development
  • Improve recruitment and retention of midwives
  • Ensure fair pay and safe, supportive working conditions
  • Enable midwives to practise to their full scope of competence
  • Strengthen professional regulation and recognition
  • Expand midwifery leadership and representation in health-policy decisions
  • Strengthen midwife-led and midwifery models of care
  • Improve continuity and person-centeredness of maternity care
  • Expand access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health services
  • Reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths
  • Improve access to care in rural, underserved, fragile and humanitarian settings
  • Reduce unnecessary medical interventions where appropriate
  • Strengthen collaboration between midwives and other health professionals
  • Invest in resilient health systems and primary healthcare
  • Recognize midwives as essential contributors to universal health coverage

Key Concepts

  • Midwifery
  • Midwife
  • Midwifery workforce
  • Maternal health
  • Maternal mortality
  • Newborn health
  • Neonatal mortality
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Adolescent health
  • Pregnancy
  • Childbirth
  • Antenatal care
  • Intrapartum care
  • Postnatal care
  • Continuity of care
  • Midwifery models of care
  • Skilled birth attendance
  • Nursing and midwifery leadership
  • Birth preparedness
  • Breastfeeding support
  • Family planning
  • Postpartum care
  • Safe motherhood

Campaign Resources & Support

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