Training Midwives in Afghanistan

Since 2014, Action for Development (AfD) has been providing training to midwives in Afghanistan. According to UNICEF and global research, high rates of maternal death reflect several factors, including limited access to quality maternal health care, particularly in rural parts of Afghanistan; a lack of knowledge of maternal health and safe delivery; and the scarcity of qualified female health providers, since there is a strong cultural preference for women to be cared for by other women.

In 6 years of existence, AfD's program has made it possible to train 650 midwives, including 113 who then qualified to become trainers themselves thanks to the so-called «cascade» approach. In total, 6 provinces of Afghanistan have already benefited from this program. 

Sediqa is 31 and she works at the Shadeed Abdul Health Center. She beneficiated from the AfD Midwifery Training Program in the past as well. She is now training 6 other midwives:“I have very good memories of my training with AfD because when I first came, I did not know about some topics. Thanks to the cascade approach, I later became myself a trainer. Taking a step back, I realize as our knowledge of the profession grows, so does our will to learn."

Despite these improvements over the past years, Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates in the world, and the need for specialised care is more important than ever. Moreover, COVID-19 has exacerbated the difficulties faced by many and has pushed women and children's health outcomes to devastating levels, which also has implications for peace.

"Besides, the corona virus has had a huge impact on our practice, as our patients were afraid of getting infected.One of our patients, who came from Dehsabz, reported that she had given birth at home. Sadly, she was not able to give birth in a healthy and professional context and manner which caused her to bleed extensively and to suffer from anemia. She then came frequently to visit the clinic and was able to recover."

Improving the survival rates of mothers in Afghanistan is an issue of immense importance for women, children and the country as a whole. Midwives are the key to providing the crucial care necessary - but they need your help!

We aim to train 400 new midwives across 4 provinces of Afghanistan: Takhar, Logar, Wardak and Badakhshan. One Day Wages foundation has agreed to provide us a total of 11,000USD with a condition to raise another 11,000USD. With a total of 22,000USD we will be able to train 100 midwives; which would include: