Global perspective Human stories

midwives

UNSMIL

Libyan women face lack of midwives and gender-based violence

Libyan women are suffering from a rise in gender-based violence and a lack of trained midwives, making childbirth more hazardous.

That’s according to Georges Makram Georgi, from the UN’s Population Fund (UNFPA).

He said the problems stem from conflict and instability that’s plagued the country since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011.

UNFPA has been working to provide advanced training to personnel to protect women in Libya and help them tackle the challenges they face.

Mr Georgi spoke to Priyanka Shankar.

Rise in midwives an “exciting story” from South Sudan

Four years ago, there were only 10 qualified midwives in South Sudan, which has a population of more than 12 million.

Today, more than 300 of these skilled workers are deployed across the country, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).

UNFPA Deputy Country Representative Dr Wilfred Ochan described the rise in midwives as one of the “exciting stories” coming out of the world’s youngest nation.

South Sudan attained independence in July 2011, but has seen more than two years of brutal conflict.