By Zuhra Shafiq | Program Director
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:
The anticipated outcomes include:
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.
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