PURPOSE:
We will share the mechanisms through which healthcare professionals, particularly midwives, participate in the processes of planning, training, implementing, and evaluating community-level disaster responses, along with their experiences in Japan’s disaster-prone environment. The Japanese Nursing Association’s key initiatives include: ・Participating in discussions on national disaster preparedness; ・Developing and publishing a guide for creating disaster response manuals aimed at midwives working in childbirth facilities; and ・Establishing systems for dispatching nursing personnel to evacuation shelters during disasters. Drawing on our experience with natural disasters such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, we aim to explore the critical role of midwives in addressing global health crises and identify the resources needed to effectively serve their communities.

DISCUSSION:
What roles are midwives expected to fulfill in overcoming health crises, including natural disasters? What is needed for midwives to fully apply their expertise and meet community needs during health crises?

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
ICM position statement: The Role of Midwives in Humanitarian Crises (2024)

KEY MESSAGE:
Midwives are essential in both the planning and execution of community disaster preparedness efforts. Climate change 3