Public health experts, nurses and NGOs working in women and child health programmes are keen that the government create a special cadre of nurse-midwives for rural India. The midwives should be trained, adequately paid and have a clear role.
Although maternal mortality is declining in India, 44,000 women still die every year during pregnancy and childbirth. This accounts for 15 percent of global maternal deaths. Half the women who die in India are under the age of 21.
“If a cadre of trained nurse-midwives is created maternal and infant mortality rates will come down. . .