The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says the world needs an additional one million midwives by 2035 to save more than four million lives each year. In a statement issued to mark the International Day of the Midwife, UNFPA Executive Director Ms Diene Keita highlights the role midwives play in improving sexual and reproductive health services and in preventing avoidable maternal and newborn deaths. The statement emphasizes that midwives are trained to provide many of the most essential sexual and reproductive health services, positioning them as key frontline health workers for both mothers and newborns. By linking the midwife workforce gap to projected annual lives saved, UNFPA frames the call as part of broader efforts to strengthen health systems and expand access to maternal and reproductive care. The reports from Vanguard and Premium Times both relay the same UNFPA message and key figures, presenting the need for an increased midwifery workforce as a time-bound target for 2035.