International Day of the Midwife: Supporting and Empowering Midwives
To mark the International Day of the Midwife, the MSF Lebanon Branch Office organized an exchange session and open discussion with midwifery students at Saint Joseph University of Beirut on May 5. Titled “Midwives as Essential Caregivers: Breaking Barriers and Expanding Access to Maternal Health in Lebanon,” the session featured MSF colleagues Wafaa Chreif, Quality Improvement Mobile Implementer Officer, and Midelt Ali, Midwife Activity Manager. On May 7, our colleague Joumana Mansour, MSF’s Nursing Team Supervisor in Lebanon, participated in a ceremony organized by the Midwifery Department of the Faculty of Public Health at the Lebanese University. The event was held under the theme “Midwives in Crisis Situations: Essential Care, a Human Right.”
Discussions addressed common misconceptions about the midwifery profession and sought to correct them. MSF colleagues shared their experiences working in the field, particularly in contexts of humanitarian crises. They stressed the importance of supporting a midwife-led care model, given that many women in Lebanon face barriers to accessing affordable maternal healthcare.
Their remarks also emphasized recognizing midwifery as a trusted and sustainable care option for women in Lebanon. With rising healthcare needs and limited service availability, midwifery presents a sustainable solution.