Uganda Honors Midwives Amid Alarming Reports of Burnout and Infertility Crisis

Hoima City, Uganda – May 5, 2025 – Uganda today marked the International Day of the Midwife with national commemorations held in Hoima City, highlighting both the vital role of midwives in maternal health and the growing crisis threatening their well-being.

At the heart of the celebrations, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robina Nabbanja paid tribute to 10 retired midwives, honoring them for their lifelong dedication to saving mothers and newborns across Uganda. She described them as national heroes “whose hands brought life,” and emphasized that midwives are central to reducing maternal and child mortality and achieving the country’s development goals.

During the same event, Evelyn Achayo, Senior Principal Nursing Officer at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, revealed a startling consequence of the profession’s strain—some midwives are unable to have children of their own due to burnout and extreme workloads.

“Some of our midwives work 24-hour shifts without rest, especially at Health Centre IIs,” Achayo said. “They deliver others' babies, but some have no time or chance to carry their own. It's a painful reality.”

She called for urgent reforms in Uganda’s health sector, including better staffing, fair wages, improved infrastructure, elimination of corruption in recruitment, and inclusion of midwives in decision-making processes.

Agnes Bako Chandia, the Commissioner for Nursing and Midwifery, echoed the concerns, warning that understaffing was pushing midwives beyond their limits. “Midwives are very few, and the number of mothers is overwhelming,” she said. “One midwife may be left in charge of a Health Centre II or III, forced to make critical decisions alone. We need to review the health structure and urgently improve their wages.”

Prime Minister Nabbanja also took a moment to address the financial pressures facing midwives. She cautioned them against taking out large loans, saying the resulting debt burden often leads to absenteeism and affects their ability to support mothers effectively. “Supervisors must stop endorsing such loans,” she urged.

The event was attended by stakeholders including @UNFPA, which reaffirmed its commitment to supporting midwives and safe childbirth. “At UNFPA, we believe everyone counts—and every woman counts,” said a representative. “Empowering women and girls starts with empowering midwives.”

The theme for this year’s commemoration, “Midwives: A Vital Climate Solution,” not only recognized their healthcare contributions but also their role in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities.

As Uganda honors its midwives, urgent calls continue for comprehensive reforms to protect and empower them—ensuring that those who bring life are not left behind.

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