DIRE DAWA, Ethiopia — Dawit Tamru's journey to becoming the head of the school of midwifery at a university hospital in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, is a testament to the power of personal experience and individual initiative. His commitment to the profession stems from witnessing the life-saving care midwives provided to his mother after she experienced complications following the birth of his younger sister.

Tamru's story illustrates the importance of skilled medical professionals in ensuring the well-being of mothers and newborns. While traditional birth attendants may play a role in some communities, Tamru's experience highlights the potential risks associated with relying solely on individuals lacking comprehensive medical training. His mother's situation, where the traditional attendant misdiagnosed the retained placenta as a possible twin pregnancy, underscores the need for qualified medical intervention.

The global shortage of midwives, as highlighted by the WHO study, presents a challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. However, it is crucial to address this shortage through sustainable and fiscally responsible solutions. Simply increasing the number of midwives without considering the economic realities and the need for a balanced healthcare workforce could create unintended consequences.

Daniela Drandić 's observation that Africa is making good progress in closing the midwifery gap is encouraging. This progress should be studied and replicated in other regions facing similar challenges. Local solutions, tailored to the specific needs and resources of each community, are more likely to be effective than top-down, one-size-fits-all approaches.

The Lancet Global Health study's projections on the potential to avert maternal and neonatal deaths through universal access to midwifery services should be considered within the context of broader healthcare priorities. While midwifery is undoubtedly important, it is essential to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently across all areas of healthcare to maximize overall health outcomes.

Geeta Lal's recognition of Ethiopia's progress in expanding its midwifery workforce is a positive sign. Ethiopia's success can be attributed, in part, to its focus on training and deploying midwives in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited. This targeted approach is a model for other developing nations seeking to improve maternal health outcomes.