A United Nations report says training more midwives in developing countries could save up to 3.6 million lives each year, especially in Africa.

Researchers from the U.N. Population Fund found that eight African countries and Haiti need to increase their number of midwives by as much as 15 times in some cases. The African countries include Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Sudan.

Researchers studying 58 countries found that 358,000 women die each year while pregnant or giving birth because of inadequate health care. Two million newborns die within the first 24 hours of life, and 2.6 million are stillborn.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “bold steps” are needed to ensure that every woman and newborn has access to quality midwifery services.

The study called on countries to train more health workers with midwifery skills, and to provide access to emergency facilities.