Fewer than 17,000 trained midwives in Ethiopia serve an estimated childbearing population of 25.3 million and according to the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016, only 21% of women giving birth in rural areas have skilled health worker attendance. This lack of health services has a devastating impact - with approximately 11,000 women and girls dying during childbirth or as a result of complications of childbirth and another estimated 1,500 surviving but with an obstetric fistula each year.

Research from the Lancet shows universal coverage of midwifery interventions in countries such as Ethiopia could prevent up to 61% of maternal and neonatal deaths. Each year the Hamlin College of Midwives trains and deploys around 25 newly qualified midwives to rural government health centres. We collaborate with Ethiopian health authorities to identify centres in need, so Hamlin midwives have the most impact – providing quality pre and post- natal services to thousands of women each year.