Midwives play a pivotal role in maternal and neonatal health, serving as the frontline responders in obstetric emergencies and complications (EmONC) globally.

The competencies of midwives should align with the International Confederation of Midwives’ (ICM) 2024 Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice.

“Policymakers, institutions and stakeholders must work together to institutionalise CPD, ensuring that midwives are adequately trained, resourced, and supported”

The competencies highlighted in chapter 4 of the guidelines indicate the need for midwives to undergo emergency skills training programmes such as Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC), Helping Mothers Survive, Helping Babies Survive.

In my opinion, midwives are often the frontline healthcare professional available for maternal and neonatal healthcare, particularly in low-resource settings where they are sometimes the only healthcare providers available to pregnant women.

During my clinical training as a midwife, I became increasingly concerned that many midwives are often unprepared and lack the necessary skills to effectively manage emergencies.

One midwife candidly shared that “with every childbirth, we simply pray and hope that no complications or emergencies arise during labour”.

This statement reflects the anxiety and uncertainty faced by midwives due to insufficient training, highlighting the pressing need for structured continuing professional development (CPD) programmes in EmONC.

My argument is that given the complexity and unpredictability of childbirth, midwives must be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage obstetric emergencies effectively.

CPD in emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) is not just an option; it is a necessity for improving maternal and newborn outcomes and achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.1: reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

I am currently leading a project looking at developing innovative continuing development programmes for midwives on management of obstetric emergencies.

As one of the Africa regional hub leaders of the Nursing Now Challenge, I deem it necessary that universities should and invest in young professionals ensure that they remain abreast to competencies, thus transforming the future of healthcare.

The emergencies such as postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, obstructed labour, and neonatal asphyxia require immediate, skilled intervention.

In my opinion, it is imperative that nurse and midwifery educators need to use several approaches in the teaching, such as simulation-based training using high-fidelity simulations and role-playing exercises, enabling midwives to practice emergency response in a controlled environment, improving decision-making and hands-on skills.

Mobile health applications provide midwives with real-time clinical guidelines, teleconsultation options and refresher training on EmONC protocols.

Empowering midwives with CPD in EmONC has a direct impact on reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

The reality is that midwives trained in emergency management contribute significantly to early recognition of complications, timely referrals and improved survival rates.

Additionally, ongoing education boosts midwives’ confidence and decision-making abilities, leading to higher job satisfaction and retention rates in the profession.

A call to action to strengthening midwives through CPD in EmONC is a fundamental step towards improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Policymakers, healthcare institutions and stakeholders must work together to institutionalise CPD, ensuring that midwives are adequately trained, resourced and supported.

My motto is: investing in midwives is investing in safer childbirth, healthier mothers, and stronger communities.

It is time to prioritise CPD for midwives as a key pillar of maternal and neonatal healthcare transformation.

Dr Maurine Musie is advanced midwife specialist and midwifery lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, and Africa regional hub lead, Nursing Now Challenge