Ontario midwifery leader Althea Jones addresses global reproductive health disparities at UNFPA's international symposium in Costa Rica.
At a time when health inequities continue to expose the systemic gaps impacting Black communities globally, one Toronto-based midwife is standing at the crossroads of care and justice. Althea Jones, President of the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM), is taking Ontario’s commitment to reproductive justice to the international stage. From July 8 to 11, 2025, Jones is speaking at the Global Symposium for Bridging the Gap in Reproductive Health of Afro-Descendant Women in San José, Costa Rica.
Organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the symposium convenes Black leaders, researchers, midwives, and public health advocates from around the world. The goal is clear: address the stark disparities in perinatal mortality, access to contraception, and reproductive autonomy affecting Afro-descendant women.
Jones’ invitation to participate affirms Ontario midwifery’s global role as a leader in equity-driven care, highlighting the province’s commitment to transformative, community-centred health practices. As the founder of Ancestral Hands Midwives in Scarborough, she has been at the forefront of providing culturally safe and community-rooted care for families historically underserved by the healthcare system. Under her leadership, the clinic has become a healing space for Black families seeking not only medical care but also dignity and trust.
Bringing community-centred care to the global stage
Since becoming President of the AOM in 2024, Jones has doubled down on advocacy that centres racial equity within Ontario’s health care infrastructure. Her message to the international audience in Costa Rica is both simple and profound: “Midwifery is more than a model of care—it’s a tool for transformation. It’s how we restore autonomy, rebuild trust, and reimagine reproductive health systems that actually work for Afro-descendant communities.”
Her participation in the symposium adds a vital Canadian perspective to a global issue. It also underscores the importance of ensuring that Black midwives have a seat at policy-making tables—not just in Ontario, but everywhere reproductive health decisions are made. The inclusion of Jones in this pivotal dialogue is a testament to how local leadership, when grounded in cultural understanding and justice, can shape international conversations.
Ontario midwifery: A model for equity in maternal health
The AOM, which represents over a thousand midwives serving more than 250 communities across Ontario, stands firmly behind Jones. Since the regulation of midwifery in Ontario in 1994, over 400,000 births have taken place under midwifery care. This history is not just about numbers—it’s about a growing movement for personalized, inclusive, and community-centred health services.
By stepping onto this international platform, Althea Jones is not only representing Ontario midwifery—she’s amplifying the voices of Black birthing people around the world whose needs have long been unmet. Her advocacy is rooted in care, shaped by community, and driven by a vision of reproductive justice where no one is left behind.
The road ahead
Althea Jones’ leadership at the Global Symposium in Costa Rica marks a pivotal moment for Black reproductive health advocacy, both in Canada and globally. Her presence elevates Ontario’s midwifery model as a robust framework for equitable care, offering real-world solutions to some of the most urgent maternal health disparities affecting Black communities.
As the world increasingly acknowledges the interconnectedness of racial justice and health care, voices like Jones’ are essential. She reminds us that midwifery, when grounded in cultural knowledge and led by those closest to the community, can be revolutionary. The Association of Ontario Midwives continues to be a champion for this vision, proudly supporting its president as she speaks truth to power on the global stage.
