PURPOSE:
In Lebanon, maternal health care remains fragmented and inequitable, particularly for women living in remote areas, informal settlements, or displacement contexts. Geographic, financial, and social barriers prevent timely access to SRH services. There is a need for community-centered approaches that improve outcomes for women and newborns. This model aims to bridge service delivery gaps by integrating midwife-led care at primary health care centers with structured home visits. It seeks to ensure that all women receive respectful, continuous, and high-quality prenatal and postnatal care. The model also empowers midwives to act as frontline caregivers and trusted community health advocates.

DISCUSSION:
By extending midwifery care beyond health facilities into the communities, this model addresses key barriers such as transportation costs, distance, and lack of trust in the system. Midwives provide early detection of complications, psychosocial support, birth preparedness, and health education—especially in underserved and crisis-affected regions. The model also promotes a life-cycle approach, connecting maternal health with newborn and child health, vaccination, nutrition, and ongoing follow-up.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
After one year of implementation, the model yielded promising results: A total of 1,430 pregnant women received antenatal care, while 15,830 women and newborns were visited within seven days postpartum, and 15,917 received postnatal follow-up within 60 days. Outcomes reflect improved early identification of risks, increased utilization of services, and greater community trust in the health system. The model aligns with WHO and UNFPA recommendations promoting midwife-led, community-based, and decentralized care. Moreover, it enhances the social recognition of midwives and expands their role beyond antenatal and postnatal services, positioning them as key providers of primary SRH care.

KEY MESSAGE:
Community-based, midwife-led hybrid models represent an effective and scalable solution to reduce maternal and newborn health disparities. By combining facility-based services with structured home visits, this model enhances access, strengthens midwives’ professional roles, and promotes equitable, person-centered care in Lebanon. Education - competency development 3 (including three-minute presentation competition)