Mandalay, Myanmar — In the immediate aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025, essential services, including health services, were disrupted, leaving women and girls—desperate for urgent assistance. Amidst this chaos, midwives emerged as frontline heroes, providing hope and life-saving support for the women of affected communities.
Yu Yu, a dedicated midwife, vividly recalls the aftermath: “Women, especially pregnant mothers, were severely impacted. They faced uncertainty about where they could safely deliver their babies. Healthcare facilities were destroyed, services disrupted, leaving pregnant women stranded and vulnerable.”
Amidst this desperation, Yu Yu took extraordinary measures. “When women can’t reach us, we go to them,” she shared. One particular story stands out—a mother she regularly cared for was suddenly stranded, unable to reach any clinic as her labour pains intensified. Without hesitation, she rushed to the woman’s location, confronting both physical obstacles and emotional challenges regardless of the series of aftershocks in Mandalay.
“When I reached her, she was exhausted, overwhelmed by fear and financial insecurity following the earthquake,” she recalled. The delivery quickly turned into an emergency as she discovered the baby’s umbilical cord wrapped dangerously around its neck. It was a situation demanding utmost skill and calmness.
“Had a skilled midwife not been there, the outcome could have been tragic,” she emphasizes. Her skill and swift actions saved both mother and baby, filling her with profound relief and joy.
However, she acknowledges the crisis has intensified healthcare challenges, including severe shortages in essential medicines and healthcare professionals. “Women, especially pregnant mothers, suffer physically and mentally, making them more vulnerable,” she stresses.
Yet, she remains committed, working tirelessly, “I urge healthcare providers and organizations to collaborate and support those in urgent need.”
Thanks to training and support from UNFPA, Yu Yu honed her skills in maternal and newborn healthcare and emergency response. These opportunities have significantly strengthened her capacities. “Advanced training greatly improved my ability to respond effectively in emergencies. The trust mothers place in me now gives me great confidence,” she says.
Driven by her professional experience as a midwife for almost a decade, Yu Yu calls passionately for greater investment in training midwives. “If more midwives can access advanced training, we can collectively ensure that mothers and newborns receive critical care efficiently, even in the worst crises.”
The earthquake has impacted 17.2 million people in the affected areas of Myanmar, with over 223,000 pregnant women urgently needing care. Midwives like Yu Yu, supported by UNFPA, continue their tireless efforts on the frontlines, delivering life-saving services and restoring hope amid unprecedented adversity. UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, has been supporting midwives in collaboration with sexual and reproductive health partners. Through the deployment of mobile clinics, the distribution of clean delivery and dignity kits, and the provision of maternal and newborn care, UNFPA is ensuring that women and girls continue to receive essential health care and protection services. To sustain and expand these critical interventions, UNFPA has launched a $12 million emergency appeal aimed at reaching 680,000 people in the earthquake-affected areas with life-saving care.
🎥 Watch Now: Yu Yu’s Story – A Midwife in Crisis
