Lesotho recruits male midwives

Good news! Bravo! So much for gender equality in Africa!

"As Lesotho health officials aim to lower the country’s maternal mortality rate, they are recruiting more men into a vital role usually left to women: midwifery.

~300 male midwives now provide care across the country, often traversing wide rural regions to assist underserved communities.

Stark care gaps: In Lesotho, ~530 women die for every 100,000 live births—more than 2X the global average. ..."

Global Health NOW: In the Himalayas, Widespread Destruction and Warning; and Men Join the Ranks of Lesotho’s Midwives

Midwife Sehloho Ntlhane leans over a pregnant patient and uses a Pinard horn to listen to the baby’s heartbeat during a prenatal exam at Mpharane Health Center, Lesotho, on July 10, 2026. (Source)