Midwives are indispensable to maternal and newborn healthcare systems and remain among the most trusted frontline healthcare professionals across Cameroon and the wider Global South. However, while global maternal health efforts have focused primarily on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, comparatively little attention has been given to the occupational health, safety, and well-being of the caregivers themselves. 

This professional perspective draws on lived experience in midwifery practice and an emerging Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) lens to advocate for stronger integration of occupational health principles into maternal healthcare systems. Midwives frequently work under demanding conditions characterized by prolonged standing, repetitive movements, manual handling of patients, extended shifts,psychological stress, and limited ergonomic support. These realities may contribute to musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue, burnout, and workforce attrition, ultimately affecting the quality and continuity of maternal and newborn care. 

This commentary calls for multidisciplinary collaboration among policymakers, educators, professional associations, healthcare institutions,  and HSE practitioners to reposition occupational health as a core pillar of maternal healthcare delivery across Cameroon and the Global South.

Faith Flourish Ude is a 26 years old trained midwife, women's health educator, and founder of the Red Queen Movement, an initiative dedicated 

to empowering girls and women through menstrual health education, reproductive health advocacy, and leadership development in Cameroon. She is expanding her expertise in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) with a particular interest in occupational health within maternal healthcare settings and advocates for safer and more sustainable working environments for frontline caregivers.