DILI, 05 May 2026 (TATOLI) — The Midwifery Association of Timor-Leste (APTL) and UNFPA Timor-Leste, in collaboration with Health Ministry marked the International Day of the Midwife 2026 on Tuesday with an advocacy event calling for stronger investment in the country’s midwifery workforce.
The event was held under the global theme, “One Million More Midwives,” reflecting an international campaign highlighting the need for an additional one million midwives worldwide by 2035 to help save more than four million lives annually.
The event brought together midwives across the country, high level government officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture, National Parliament, and representatives of higher education institutions, the National Institute of Public Health, the Timor-Leste Midwifery Association, UN agencies including UNICEF Timor-Leste and World Health Organization Timor-Leste.
The participants celebrated midwives as an essential workforce for strengthening health systems, improving health care and saving lives.
The partners renewed their commitment to investment in midwifery workforce through quality education, skills training, improving working conditions, enhancing supervision and mentoring, and supporting enabling policies and sustainable financing.
Every $1 invested in midwifery yields up to $16 in social and economic gains. One clear message stands at the heart of this moment: Investing in midwives is not a cost but an investment in the future of Timor-Leste.
Today we celebrate midwives across Timor-Leste! Their commitment, courage and compassion truly inspire all of us! Happy International Day of the Midwife!
TATOLI
