Addressing Critical Knowledge Gaps in Newborn Health

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Photo Essay: The impact of the global shortage of midwives

 
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Shakila in Chari Qulbar refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan. She gave birth to twins four months ago in unsanitary conditions with no birthing assistant. Her family of 11 are from Sangin, in Helmand province, and moved to Kabul a year ago.

Lalage Snow/Save the Children

A razor blade is a traditional midwife's only tool to help deliver babies in Katsina, northern Nigeria. In this region the majority of births occur at home and are attended by traditional birth attendants, most of whom have not had formal training.

Pep Bonet/Noor/Save the Children

Mohammad, 39, lost his wife, Haleema, 35, a year ago during childbirth, in northern Afghanistan's Jawzjan province. An Afghan woman is 225 times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman in the UK.

Mats Lignell/Save the Children

Setting off on an evening visit to an expectant mother, Momal, a health worker, carries her blue bag of basic medicines as she walks in the desert village of Amarhar in Pakistan. Trained by a local NGO, Marvi, Momal helps to advise and treat pregnant women and treat newborn babies in an area that has Pakistan's highest rate of maternal mortality.

Alixandra Fazzina/Save the Children

William holds a photo of his wife, who died during childbirth, in Mvolo, southern Sudan.

Rachel Palmer/Save the Children

Women practice during a course to become a community midwife, supported by Save the Children, in northern Afghanistan's Jawzjan province.

Mats Lignell/Save the Children

A father with his three-month-old baby girl, in Katsina, northern Nigeria. His wife died while giving birth.

Pep Bonet/Noor/Save the Children

Eva, a midwife, checks Fuzia, 28, at the antenatal clinic in Mvolo, southern Sudan. Fuzia is expecting her first child.

Rachel Palmer/Save the Children

A newborn baby at the maternity labour ward in the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina, Nigeria.

Pep Bonet/Noor/Save the Children
 
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A new report, Missing Midwives, published by Save the Children, highlights the crucial role midwives play in saving the lives of mothers and newborn babies. Here, we look at the impact of the global shortage of midwives on some of the world's poorest regions.

This photo gallery was produced by the Guardian.co.uk