Physical Health Afghanistan Project #28067

Training Midwives in Afghanistan

by Action for Development (AfD)

Project Report | Feb 26, 2025
Successful session of training held

By Zuhra Shafiq | Program Director

Action for Development has been implementing on the job midwifery training to the certified midwives over the last decade. We have already reached over 1200 midwives in all the regions of Afghnistan. During the months of October to December 2024 AfD has implemented the latest session of training to 140 midwives.

Midwife Hamida (given name for security reasons) is one of the midwives who has completed her training 3 years ago and currently is working in one of the clinics in Kabul city of Afghanistan.

Midwife Hamida loves her job and enjoys providing services to other women. She said that for the first time she heard of these skill upgrade courses through her friend, and she wished to receive these materials as well as participate in the training in order to obtain further qualification and upgrade her knowledge.

During the third quarter of 2024, as AfD conducted the first training session in Kabul, training 40 midwives from four different provinces . Hamida got a chance to participate in this training and learn more about management of the critical situtations during health care delivery.

Upon receipt of the certificate (followed 10 day training) midwife Hamida celebrated her accomplishment via posting some photos and statements on her Whatsapp. Her comment says: “ She told me: it is impossible that you would succeed! I told her: “me” is not “you”. …. I am going to fight and obtain my specialization. Thank you God for helping me to overcome the barriers and be able to participate in this training program.”

Afghanistan already has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with a report released last year noting 620 women were dying per 100,000 live births. What this means for women's healthcare also now remains to be seen: last year, the United Nations said Afghanistan needed an additional 18,000 midwives to meet the country's needs.

Attachments:

Midwife testimonial (training session 2024 ) (PDF)

1 Attachment

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Oct 15, 2024
Maternal and Newborn health -Afghanistan

By Elaine Maloy | Public Health Officer

a newborn before it breaths

Maternal mortality and morbidity remain a critical area of concern in Afghanistan. Since the last three years, women’s health and wellbeing have continued to be marginalized and oppressed upon huge departure of the people from Afghanistan as well as the ban on women’s employment and education. Despite vast assurances of various media that women will still be permitted to work in healthcare roles, the reality on the ground and in local communities tells a different story.

For midwives, many have faced uncertainty, with salaried positions being disbanded and employment opportunities drastically reduced. Some midwives have been forced to continue their work in a voluntary capacity, driven by their commitment to ensuring that women, especially the most vulnerable, maintain access to essential primary care. Their dedication has been critical in filling the gaps left by systemic restrictions, and their efforts have provided a vital lifeline to women in need.

Over the past 12 months, we have been limited in offering professional training for midwives due to various reasons. Nevertheless, recognizing the urgent need for accessible, localized healthcare services, AfD has adapted a new approach. We responded by establishing an inpatient midwife unit within our Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC). With the support of generous donors, we successfully recruited two midwives and a nurse to deliver 24-hour midwifery services under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN). This service officially began on July 1st.

Since its launch, the midwifery unit has provided care to over 150 women, offering antenatal and postnatal consultations, and has facilitated the safe delivery of six babies. Funding from GlobalGiving has been instrumental in setting up the unit, purchasing midwifery equipment, and providing delivery packs, ensuring safe deliveries was also covered by additional external donors.

Looking ahead, the success of this unit highlights the ongoing need for further investment in maternal health services, especially as women of Afghanistan continue to face significant barriers in accessing quality care. With sustained support, we hope to expand our services and continue to play a crucial role in improving maternal outcomes in one of the most challenging environments in the world.

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May 30, 2024
Advancing Midwifery Training Program by AfD

By Zuhra Shafiq | Program Director

Midwives in training

Action for Development (AfD) has initiated a comprehensive training program to enhance the skills and knowledge of midwives in Afghanistan. This initiative aims to address the critical shortage of qualified midwives in the country's healthcare facilities and adhere to the Ministry of Public Health's policy for improving maternal and child health services. The program is made possible through a combination of local fundraising and philanthropy engagements.

The funding for this training program was sourced through two primary channels:

1) Local fundraising: AfD successfully mobilized support from the local community and various staekhoders to secure a proportion of the necessary funds

2) Foundation Grant: Recognizing the importance of this initiative, AfD received a grant that covered 50% of the total funding

Curriculum Enhancement:

AfD has taken significant steps to improve the curriculum of the midwifery training program. The original curriculum, developed in collaboration with the Geneva Midwifery School (Haute Ecole de Santé Genève), consisted of 10 modules. To ensure comprehensive training that meets international standards, AfD has introduced two new modules:

Mental Health: This module focuses on the psychological well-being of pregnant and lactating women, equipping midwives with the skills to provide appropriate mental health support.

Nutrition: This module emphasizes the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women, highlighting the importance of proper diet and nutrition for maternal and child health.

These additions bring the total number of training modules to 12, ensuring a more holistic approach to midwifery education with a particular focus on the areas that need further improvement to decrease maternal and child/neonatal deaths.

Over the next quarter we hope to be able to train 120 midwives who had received aninitial 18 month training will undergo this enhanced training program, which includes the following modules

Antenatal care

Intrapartum care

Postnatal care

Reproductive health education

Newborn care

Emergency Obstetric care

Basic healthcare management

Community Health Education

Midwifery ethics and professionalism

Infection prevention and control

Mental health

Nutrition for pregnant and lactating women

Objectives and Outcomes

The primary objective of the program are:

To equip midwives with advanced skills and knowledge necessary for providing high-quality maternal and child healthcare.
To address the critical shortage of midwives in Afghanistan’s healthcare facilities
To ensure that midwives can offer comprehensive care, including mental health and nutritional support to pregnant and lactating

The anticipated outcomes include:

Improved maternal and child health services in Afghanistan
Enhanced capacity of midwives to handle a wide range of health issues
Strengthened healthcare infrastructure through the availability of well-trained midwives.

Action for Development's initiative to train 120 midwives in Afghanistan is a significant step towards improving maternal and child health in the country. The enhanced curriculum, supported by robust funding from local sources and the our committed donors, will ensure that midwives are well-prepared to meet the healthcare needs of their communities. This program underscores AfD's commitment to building a healthier future for Afghanistan through education and capacity building.

Midwives during cascade training

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