MAY 5 is celebrated annually as International Day of the Midwife. This year, the day was celebrated under the theme ‘Midwives — a vital climate solution’.

A common misconception is that midwives are nurses, but they are not. The midwife is a person [male or female] who has successfully completed a midwifery education programme, usually two or four years in Jamaica, and who has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery and use the title midwife, and who demonstrates competency in the practice of midwifery. (International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), 2021).

Midwives offer services in both primary- and secondary-care facilities, however they are independent practitioners and may be found mainly in the community, in some jurisdictions.

Health practitioners are often identified by their uniform, and as such midwives are identified by their white tunics, burgundy stripe on caps, burgundy badges, and burgundy belts for senior midwives, while the males wear white bush jackets and black pants with burgundy batches.

Despite the shortage of almost one million midwives globally, midwives continue to deliver stellar services to the health-care system. Of note is that midwives are first responders in the climate catastrophes as well as providers of safe and environmentally sustainable services. Without a doubt and consistent with this year’s International Day of the Midwife theme, midwives are a vital climate solution for the future.

This year midwives are celebrated worldwide, not only for the indispensable role they play in maternal, newborn and child health but also the very important contribution they are making to addressing climate change issues. While their roles in climate change may not be apparent, midwives offer climate solutions through their practices and principles.

Generally speaking, climate change disproportionately affects marginalised communities that are usually of low socio-economic status. This predisposes pregnant women, newborns and the child-bearing families to the shocks of climate change. As a result, midwives globally embrace social justice and inclusivity and, as such, they agitate for an end to disparities in health and ensure that women have access to quality, respectful, maternal and newborn care — regardless of geographic location and social status.

Further, midwives offer community-based and home-based maternal and child health services which are associated with low-energy consumption and low-carbon emissions when compared to hospital births and services. These practices not only lower energy consumption and carbon emission but also empower women to make informed choices about their birthing options, ultimately contributing to human health, a sustainable health-care system, and environmental well-being.

In Jamaica we promote breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for babies and the healthiest option for both mother and baby. Mothers are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed their babies for up to six months, with breastmilk being an essential part of babies’ diet until they are one to two years old. Midwives play critical roles in promoting breastfeeding, which is friendly to the environment. The practice of breastfeeding reduces the demand to produce formula (note that formula has its place), which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. By extension midwives, while improving maternal and child health, also assist to mitigate environmental degradation.

Besides, midwives are poised to educate communities about health and the inextricable link with the environment. Through their interactions with mothers, the child-bearing families and communities, midwives can foster eco-consciousness, raise awareness, and catalyse behavioural changes regarding sustainable living practices, climate resilience, and how to preserve natural resources — which will mitigate climate change.

In conclusion we applaud midwives locally, regionally, and internationally for their stellar contribution to the health-care system and the role they play in climate change. I implore the technocrats in health to bestow on midwives the recognition and respect that they deserve for their work and worth. Equally, we need to create enabling environments for midwives to play their role as environmental stewards. The time has come for us to embrace midwifery as a vital climate solution, even as we crave a healthy and sustainable future for our nation.

Dr Adella Campbell is associate professor and dean of the College of Health Sciences, University of Technology, Jamaica.