March 23, 2026Mar 23, 2026
KCNA Naenara (En)

Invest in Midwives

Date: 05/05/2021 | Source: Naenara (En) | Read original version at source

May 5 is International Midwives’ Day.

Every year, 289 000 pregnant women and nursing mothers die of complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and the number of stillborn babies amounts to 2.6 million across the world.

The rate of maternal and neonatal deaths is still low in the developing countries, because pregnant women and nursing mothers do not receive medical treatment from competent midwives before, during and after childbirth and because there is a shortage of midwives.

According to the recent study results of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the competent midwife-delivered interventions would avert 41% of maternal deaths, 39% of neonatal deaths, and 26% of stillbirths of the current level in the developing countries, thus saving 2.2 million lives by 2035.

So, the ICM set “Invest in Midwives” as the theme of the 2021 International Midwives’ Day and calls upon all countries to raise public awareness and interest in the midwives, increase the ranks of midwives by training them as required by global standards, and encourage them to assist all pregnant women in childbirth so as to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

Giving social prominence to midwives and according them preferential treatment is a priority issue to guarantee high-quality medical service.

Our country awards an honorary title of merited midwife to those who have rendered distinguished services while working in the sector for a long time to ensure the health of pregnant women and nursing mothers and newborn babies.

In the run-up to International Midwives’ Day every year, it gives wide publicity to model midwives through newspaper, TV and radio and organizes the work to popularize their experiences in various forms and by various methods.

Vocational schools in the capital city and local areas train professional midwives.

Midwives devote themselves to medical services.

They identify all the pregnant women in the districts under their charge and advise them to take maternity leave in good time. Those working at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, provincial maternity hospitals and other people’s hospitals assist delivery and take warm care of the health of newborn babies.

Thanks to the state support to and growing social interest in the medical sector, obstetricians and midwives who are possessed of a high sense of responsibility and skilled practical ability conduct their medical services with maternal affection.

Yu Hyang Suk, head of a department of Pyongyang Maternity Hospital

More From Naenara (En)

Nation Guards against Disastrous Abnormal Weather

Nation Guards against Disastrous Abnormal Weather

March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as

March 23, 2026

March 23 is World Meteorological Day. In January the World Meteorological Organization released a report that 2025 was recorded as

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Greetings to Lao President

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Greetings to Lao President

Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s

March 23, 2026

Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s

Cabinet Members Appointed at First Session of 15th SPA of DPRK

Cabinet Members Appointed at First Session of 15th SPA of DPRK

The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the

March 23, 2026

The First Session of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appointed the members of the

Opening Speech at First Session of 15th SPA

Opening Speech at First Session of 15th SPA

Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the

March 23, 2026

Deputy Ko Kil Son, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, made an opening speech at the

Flourishing Region

Flourishing Region

Jangyon County in South Hwanghae Province is well known for its successful cultivation of barley. It has become a flourishing

March 23, 2026

Jangyon County in South Hwanghae Province is well known for its successful cultivation of barley. It has become a flourishing

Main Driving Force for Agricultural Development

Main Driving Force for Agricultural Development

The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in late December 2021 set forth a

March 23, 2026

The Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in late December 2021 set forth a

Korean Custom of Making Rice-and-wormwood Cake

Korean Custom of Making Rice-and-wormwood Cake

The rice-and-wormwood cake is one of the traditional Korean foods. Here is a story about it. Once upon a time a mother took out

March 23, 2026

The rice-and-wormwood cake is one of the traditional Korean foods. Here is a story about it. Once upon a time a mother took out

Yut Game

Yut Game

Yut (four-stick) game is one of the typical folk games that have been played by the Korean people since before the Koguryo period

March 23, 2026

Yut (four-stick) game is one of the typical folk games that have been played by the Korean people since before the Koguryo period

Hwasong Area Leading Civilization of Capital City

Hwasong Area Leading Civilization of Capital City

A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang took place

March 22, 2026

A groundbreaking ceremony for the fifth-stage construction project in the Hwasong area of the capital city of Pyongyang took place

Model Cosmetics Factory

Model Cosmetics Factory

The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, is the maker of the Unhasu -brand cosmetics with an

March 22, 2026

The Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, is the maker of the Unhasu -brand cosmetics with an

Onpho Hot Spring

Onpho Hot Spring

The Onpho hot spring in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, has been well known for its marvellous effect on

March 22, 2026

The Onpho hot spring in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, has been well known for its marvellous effect on

Mausoleum of King Kyonghyo

Mausoleum of King Kyonghyo

Kaesong Municipality was once the capital of Koryo (918-1392), one of the feudal states in Korea. In the city there are many tombs

March 22, 2026

Kaesong Municipality was once the capital of Koryo (918-1392), one of the feudal states in Korea. In the city there are many tombs

Mt Paektu Area Draws Sports Enthusiasts

Mt Paektu Area Draws Sports Enthusiasts

The area of Mt Paektu, 2 750 metres above sea level, is noted as a global geopark. Recently it is better known as an iconic

March 21, 2026

The area of Mt Paektu, 2 750 metres above sea level, is noted as a global geopark. Recently it is better known as an iconic

Tomb Murals of Koguryo

Tomb Murals of Koguryo

Koguryo lasted from 277 BC to AD 668. The tombs of the first feudal state of Korea have paintings on walls and ceilings. The

March 21, 2026

Koguryo lasted from 277 BC to AD 668. The tombs of the first feudal state of Korea have paintings on walls and ceilings. The

More Articles