On May 5, 2026, International Midwives’ Day brought sharp new attention to a growing public health emergency unfolding across Haiti, where a crippling shortage of properly trained midwives has pushed the country’s maternal health system to the brink of collapse. To mark the annual observance, Haiti’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs issued a public tribute honoring the midwives already serving on the frontlines of women’s sexual and reproductive health, framing these professionals as irreplaceable pillars of the country’s fragile care infrastructure. But the tribute also underscored a stark reality: the current number of active, internationally qualified midwives falls drastically short of meeting the needs of Haiti’s population.
Joint estimates from the Haitian Midwives Association (ASFH) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) put the current count of practicing, internationally trained midwives at just 300 to 455. This tiny workforce is tasked with serving more than 2.8 million women of reproductive age across the country, a burden that is unevenly distributed to compound the crisis. The vast majority of practicing midwives are concentrated in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, leaving remote rural regions with almost no access to qualified birthing care. In these underserved areas, unassisted home births remain the norm, putting both birthing parents and newborns at extreme risk of preventable complications or death.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) benchmarks, Haiti requires a minimum of 2,200 qualified midwives to deliver basic universal maternal health coverage and bring down the country’s devastating maternal mortality rate. Currently, Haiti holds the unenviable title of having the highest maternal mortality ratio in the Caribbean: 529 deaths for every 100,000 live births. Public health experts link a large share of these deaths directly to the midwife shortage, noting that more than 60% of all births in the country take place without the support of skilled medical personnel. The gap between current and required midwife numbers sits at roughly 1,900, a deficit that demands urgent coordinated action.
The data makes clear that targeted investment in midwife training through Haiti’s National Institute for Midwifery Training (INSFSF) is critical to closing the gap by the 2030 target. Beyond cutting preventable maternal and infant deaths, expanding access to qualified midwifery care also advances broader goals of ensuring all Haitian women can access dignified, respectful, and equitable healthcare. On International Midwives’ Day, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s rights and strengthening public policies focused on sexual and reproductive health, acknowledging that midwives play a strategic role in driving long-term national development.