Remarks by Dr. Derveeuw Marc G.L, UNFPA Representative 
During the Opening Ceremony of the International Day of Midwives under the theme of  <The World needs midwives more than ever>

6th May 2013
Sunway Hotel

Excellency Dr. Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health
Monique Mosolf : USAID Representative

Distinguished colleagues, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen!

Skilled Midwives, Primary and Secondary, practicing in the hospitals and health centers have made a great difference for women and children in Cambodia. They contributed substantially to the reduction of maternal mortality in the country and saved thousands of lives in the last years. 
On this International day of the midwife, the MOH, through the National Maternal and Child Health Centre, the Cambodian Midwives Association and UNFPA want to celebrate the work of the nearly 3000 national midwives in contributing to saving mothers and children. We want to recognize that the tireless work of midwives is a crucial step towards achieving the MDG4 and MDG5 Goals. In Cambodia over 70% of the births are happening in public health facilities which is a huge step from the 19% in 2002.
Global experience shows that investing in human resources for health is one of the best investments a country can make. The concrete steps by the Government over the past years have indeed contributed to the improved coverage and take-up of maternal and neonatal services. Today, nearly every health centre in the country has at least a midwife. The number of young women trained to be midwives has increased rapidly, and a midwifery incentive system has been successfully introduced by the Royal Government of Cambodia. As a result of this a career as a midwife has become very attractive in Cambodia. In addition, the approval of the national code of ethics in January is an important step in regulating the Midwifery practice, but also set the trend for regulating other medical professions.

Midwives are providing a numerous number of community services and play a vital role in Cambodia's development. More importantly, skilled midwives are playing an important role in ensuring universal access to voluntary family planning and ensure that family planning is a choice people can make. Midwives' invaluable counseling skills about side effects are instrumental in empowering young couples and women to make their decisions that are right for their particular situations.

However there is still work to be done. While we have made important progress in coverage, I think the right time has come to start looking at ways for quality improvement. Though routine supervision, continuous support and support to outreach services. UNFPA remains committed to roll out the training of emergency obstetric care to reach 180 Emergency obstetric care units by 2015, however we would like to see that the present in-service and hands-on training is also integrated in the pre-service training and that young and dynamic midwives have the right skills when they leave the nurse training schools.

This occasion is an opportunity for us all to commit to our continuing work together in pursuit of our shared determination that women should not die because of giving life.

I would like to end here with special thanks to all the midwives, for their professional commitment and dedication to their work in life-saving activities that address the basic health needs and rights of the women and children in Cambodia.

Thank you.