The Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia (FMoH) has given greater emphasis on improving maternal and newborn health in order to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
UNFPA, as part of the UN H4+ Initiative, is assisting the Government of Ethiopia through the implementation of various programmes aimed at reducing maternal and new born mortality and
morbidity.

It is a known fact that the period of highest maternal and neonatal mortality is during labor, delivery and the first 24 hours after delivery. Such staggering reality no doubt necessitates trainings to
midwives to monitor and provide basic care to women during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and the postnatal period.

Trainings of midwives, therefore, are taken and implemented as a means of assisting reduction of the rate of morbidity and mortality. Midwives are the frontline workers in the provision of maternal and neonatal health service, working closely with other health professionals at the primary, secondary and tertiary health care units.

The Human Resource for Health Strategy of Ethiopia has indicated that the government would scale up the training of midwives through regular and accelerated Midwifery Training Programmes to contribute to increasing access to health services, including skilled birth attendance, to make pregnancy and delivery safe.

UNFPA developed this booklet to highlight the important work that midwives are doing to provide maternal and newborn care and other reproductive health services to reduce maternal and new
born mortality and morbidity.