Afghan midwives get special training in Egypt

Thirty experienced midwives went on the safe motherhood training program, which was designed to enhance their skills.

For most, it was their first international trip and their first time travelling without a male companion.

The purpose of the training was to increase knowledge and skills needed to provide care to women throughout their childbearing years.

It is hoped that the skills learnt will help with saving the lives of women and babies in Afghanistan.

Midwife Shaiesta was one of those who went on the trip and said it was an ‘unforgettable visit’.

‘I promise to share the knowledge that I have gained here with all midwives and midwifery teachers,’ she said.

She added that the experience ‘wasn’t just about the training’, but also gave her great confidence as an Afghan woman and her ‘feel proud to be a midwife’.

Since 2002, more than 3200 midwives have been trained and are now working in the Afghanistan communities that need them the most. 

The training in Egypt took place at the Regional Centre for Women's Health and Development in Alexandria and the midwives were from 19 provinces across Afghanistan.

The scheme was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health and the Egyptian government.