International Midwife Day marked in Kabul

KABUL opportunities for midwives.

Addressing a ceremony marking International Midwife Day in Kabul, the minister acknowledged the health professionals were playing an importing role in reducing women’s mortality rate.

One Afghan woman died every 30 minutes during pregnancy 10 years ago. But a survey revealed last year that a pregnant woman died every two hours.

Last week, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID an academic award in acknowledgement of the reduction in the mother mortality rate.

Dr. Dalil attributed the award to sincere efforts by health workers, especially the midwives working in remote areas. However, she stressed more efforts to reduce the women’s mortality rate.

Calling their shortage a big challenge, she said 3,000 midwives were currently working across the country. She added the health sector needed about 6,000 more midwives.

Afghan Midwives Association chief, Sabira Turkmani, said about 800 midwives were studying at the Ustad Ghazanfar Institute and other training schools. The number of midwives in the country will rise to 7,000 over the next three years.

mm/mud

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