 In 2008, noting that each year more than 100,000 women die of complications of pregnancy and childbirth and at least seven million experience serious health problems while 50 million more have adverse health consequences after childbirth, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged midwife training to strengthen maternal and newborn health services.To support the upgrading of midwifery skills the WHO established a midwife training program, Action for Safe Motherhood.The rising maternal death rate in the US is of concern.