Every two minutes, one woman dies during pregnancy and birth – We are failing mothers

Maternal mortality remains critically high worldwide, with 260,000 women dying annually due to pregnancy-related complications, and progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing maternal deaths to below 70 per 100,000 live births has stalled. Evidence shows that well-educated, autonomous midwives playing a central role in maternity care, as exemplified by the Scandinavian midwifery model, significantly reduce maternal mortality rates, contrasting with higher mortality and intervention rates in physician-led systems like that of the United States. Urgent global investment in quality midwifery education, expanding midwife numbers—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa—and proactive leadership are essential to achieving equitable maternal health and ending preventable maternal deaths.