“Thanks to family planning, my husband and I were able to space the births of our children. That allowed me to complete my second degree."

Mariel is a midwife and a member of the Western Guaraní community, one of 19 Indigenous peoples in Paraguay. She travels by motorcycle across roadless terrain to reach women who would otherwise have no access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Supporters like you make her work possible.

Mariel travels by motorcycle to reach women in her community who might otherwise not be able to access services due to a lack of roads in the region.

Indigenous communities have long faced systemic disinvestment, leaving women and girls with fewer clinics, fewer providers, and healthcare systems that often ignore their cultural practices and languages.

In Paraguay, Indigenous women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth complications than the general population, despite representing just 2% of the country. Globally, Indigenous women face higher maternal mortality rates, lower rates of prenatal care, and significantly elevated teenage pregnancy — often double the national average.

A UNFPA midwife caring for an expecting mother in Mexico.

"I would be happy to give birth in hospital if it were not for the way they talk to us," shared one woman from Nicaragua.

Because of you, that's changing.

Indigenous midwives like Mariel are bridging the gap between modern medical knowledge and ancestral wisdom. Speaking to women in their native languages, they build trust and break down barriers.

The results speak for themselves: contraceptive use in communities served by midwives like Mariel has risen by 60%, driven by culturally sensitive care and access to long-acting methods.

"First, I thank God. Second, our ancestors. Third, my mother, who passed down the wisdom of midwifery," shared Ana, an Indigenous midwife in Venezuela, on how she begins each session with her patients.

Powered by donor support, UNFPA works hand-in-hand with Indigenous healthcare workers to deliver intercultural, respectful care that honors tradition, builds trust, and saves lives. We celebrate the power, resilience, and wisdom of these midwives — and the donors who stand beside them.

We hope you'll help make this lifesaving work possible. Your generosity ensures that every woman and girl receives the care she deserves — without stigma, without barriers, without exception.

With gratitude,

— USA for UNFPA