The International Day of the Midwife: 'midwives & women: a partnership for health': reports of celebrations of the International Day of the Midwife have arrived from every region, and from midwifery associations both new and longstanding

International Midwifery, May-June, 2005 by Sheena Currie

In the press release announcing the theme of this year's International Day of the Midwife (IDM), attention was drawn to the third of the Millennium Development Goals: Promote gender equality and empower women. It was noted that midwives are in a privileged position to support this goal, and until it succeeds they will never be able fully to achieve their mission of safe motherhood. In many countries of the world there is still far to go to reach this goal, but ICM is proud to present news from each of its regions showing that midwives are driving forward this aim with striking success.

This is a country that has suffered over decades of war, unrest and political regimes repressive to women. It is with great pleasure therefore ICM can announce the formation and the first National Congress of the Afghan Midwives Association (AMA), held on the International Day. Scottish midwife Sheena Currie, who has been working Afghanistan for some years, writes: 'Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul, witnessed a gathering of more than 200 midwives from all over the country on May 4-5 for the first National Congress of the Afghan Midwives Association (AMA). Midwives from 15 other countries participated in the Congress to show their support for the Afghan midwives. Among them was Judi Brown, Deputy Director of the ICM, as well as midwives from the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) who provided technical assistance in organising the event. On the day preceding the Congress, some 70 selected midwives explored issues in the professionalisation of midwifery in Afghanistan, which included reviewing the ICM Code of Ethics, drafting an AMA Constitution and electing the AMA's new officers.

'Pashtoon Azfar, the newly elected AMA President, led the midwives as they took a pledge to "work well and with the aim that all pregnant women have access to quality midwifery care."

'With an estimated 1,600 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, Afghanistan currently has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world. In remote parts of the country, where there is virtually no access to health care, there are nearly 6,500 deaths per 100,000 live births. One child in four will die before 5 years of age, and the neonatal mortality rate is the highest in the world. A primary reason for these staggering statistics is the lack of trained midwives due to a weakened educational system, gender inequalities, and political instability after years of war and conflict. New midwifery education programmes have increased the number of midwives in Afghanistan to approximately 680 as of April 2005, but experts agree that nearly 5,000 midwives are required to meet the health care needs of Afghanistan's women and children.

'In less than one year, the AMA has been established with the assistance of local and international supporters. The AMA is currently receiving support from JHPIEGO--an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore--and the ACNM through ACCESS, USAID's global programme to improve maternal and newborn health. Over the course of the coming year the AMA will seek membership in the ICM, establish alliances for advocacy in Safe Motherhood and newborn health, re-establish a Department of Nursing and Midwifery within Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health, and participate in international midwifery activities including the ICM Triennial Congress in Brisbane.'

Judi Brown of ICM confirmed that the AMA has been established within a sound governance framework. The midwives who will form the membership of the AMA have demonstrated that they are fully committed to building their association and with the election of their leadership are well placed to begin their journey. Further strengthening of the Association will result from the attendance of two AMA participants at the ICM Council Meeting as observers and Pre-Congress Workshop, and the participation of another three midwives in the ICM Triennial Congress.

The final adoption of the newly drafted Rules of the Association will provide guidelines for the members of the AMA to conduct their own affairs and ensure the viability of the organisation. In this way, the AMA's goal of membership of the ICM can be achieved.

The AMA has an opportunity to further strengthen the leadership of the organisation by nominating a midwife to the ICM's Young Midwifery Leaders (YML) initiative--a three-year international leadership programme facilitated by the ICM.

Sheena Currie, Midwifery Adviser,

USAID/REACH Office, Kabul, Afghanistan;

scurrie@jhpiego.net

and Judi Brown, c/o ICM HQ