Join us on Thursday, 30 April 2026, from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) to celebrate the for the International Day of the Midwife with the webinar "Midwifery education and regulation in the Americas."
Background
Midwifery constitutes an essential component of the health workforce, focused on ensuring continuity of care in sexual, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and adolescent health. Midwifery personnel provide comprehensive care before, during, and after pregnancy and childbirth, practice autonomously and within interprofessional teams, and carry out clinical, community-based, educational, and research functions. Evidence demonstrates that expanding access to midwife-led interventions can prevent a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths, while also improving the experience of women and families within health services and contributing to the reduction of inequities.
However, the Region of the Americas exhibits marked heterogeneity in midwifery education models and regulatory frameworks. While some countries have consolidated direct-entry university programs and regulatory schemes that support full professional practice, in other contexts midwifery remains subsumed under midwifery nursing or faces regulatory, labor, and institutional constraints. These gaps affect the availability, recognition, and optimal utilization of midwifery’s potential to respond effectively to population health needs.
In alignment with the Policy on the Health Workforce 2030 of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery, and in the context of the International Day of the Midwife, PAHO proposes to convene Member States, academic institutions, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and key stakeholders to engage in a policy dialogue on midwifery education and regulation in the Region of the Americas.
How to participate
DATE: Thursday, 30 April, 2026
TIME: 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. (EDT)
LANGUAGES: Interpretation will be available in English and Spanish.
Time in other cities:
12:00 p.m. – San Salvador (El Salvador), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Mexico City (Mexico)
1:00 p.m. – Quito (Ecuador), Lima (Peru)
2:00 p.m. – Washington, D.C. (United States), Bridgetown (Barbados), Santiago (Chile)
3:00 p.m. – Buenos Aires (Argentina), São Paulo (Brazil), Asunción (Paraguay), Montevideo (Uruguay)
To check the time difference in other cities and regions worldwide, please click here
Objective of the event
To promote an informed dialogue on midwifery education, regulation, and practice environments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Target audience
Representatives of ministries of health, universities, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centres, midwifery associations, midwifery personnel, students, PAHO staff, and other interested stakeholders.
Agenda
Moderator: Bruna Moreno, International Consultant, PAHO
2:00 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks
Benjamín Puertas, Unit Chief, Human Resources for Health, PAHO
2:10 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
Presentation: Midwifery education and regulation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Ema Schuler, Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios, Argentina
Edwin Bolastig, Subregional Advisor, Human Resources for Health, PAHO
Commentary: Suzanne Serruya, Unit Chief, Life Course, Women’s and Children’s Health, PAHO
2:40 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Panel: Strengthening midwifery in the Region of the Americas: education, regulation, and professional practice
Victoria Muñoz Solo, National Director of Midwifery, Ministry of Health, Chile – TBC
Rosa Zárate, Dean, Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics, National Autonomous University of Mexico – TBC
Deveree Stewart, President, Caribbean Regional Midwives Association, Jamaica
3:10 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Closing remarks
James Fitzgerald, Director, Department of Health Systems and Services, PAHO