On this Friday in Wanganui, a march will highlight the International Midwives Day and raise awareness for the problem of the lack of trained and qualified midwifes in New Zealand and around the world. According to the organization Save the Children, over 300,000 midwives are missing, which leads to yearly millions of newborn and maternal deaths worldwide.

Every year, more than 340,000 women die around the globe and millions suffer disability or infections, as a result of the lack of a midwife. This means that many deaths are unnecessary and could be preventable through better health services. Two years ago, `the Every Woman, Every Child' strategy was announced by UN Secretary General, encouraging world leaders and local governments to act promoting the qualification of midwifes. Despite of that, 2 years have passed and now statistics reveal that about 3.5 million health workers would be needed by 2015.

Midwives and their supporters are being called by the International Confederation of Midwives and Save the Children to demonstrate tomorrow, calling attention to the issue of newborn and maternal mortality. According to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), it is very important to provide the population the access to midwifery services. It helps to reduce maternal and infant mortality as well as the cycle of poverty in developing countries.

New Zealand was recognized by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) for its world-class maternity system.

As part of the global activity, the organization is also promoting the Every One Midwife Awards, whose winners will be revealed in June at the ICM Congress in South Africa.