State of the World’s Midwifery Report 2021: Follow the Data, Invest in Midwives “Every day in every part of the world, midwives save the lives of women and babies and promote the health and well-being of entire communities,” writes UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem in honor of International Day of the Midwife. “They deserve our respect and gratitude, but that is not enough. Midwives deserve greater investment in their capabilities, and workplaces that empower them and fully acknowledge their skills and contributions.” Investment in midwifery could save millions of lives per year – an estimated 4.3 million annually by 2035. The 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) report is dedicated to health workers who lost their lives to COVID-19. According to Amnesty International, at least 17,000 health workers have died from COVID-19. The pandemic has made clear the need for midwives as essential primary care providers, yet they are not properly protected from COVID-19. “[Midwives] have faced increasing pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and heightened inequalities in their workplaces. Often short on protective gear, and with less access to vaccines than other healthcare workers, midwives have put their own lives at risk serving others. Such dedication is an invaluable resource, yet too many health systems depend on it without commensurate backing of midwifery as a profession,” writes Dr. Kanem.