TAKHAR MIDWIFE TRAINING
Nooristan Foundation (NF) is supporting a program that is training approximately 80 midwives in Takhar Province. This area has one of the worse maternal mortality rates in the world, with approximately 1,600 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births per year. Throughout Afghanistan, there is still a critical shortage of health care workers and facilities and it is estimated that there is presently only one doctor for every 50,000 people (UNDP).
Given its commitment to education and training, NF partnered with Marigold Fund (Marigold), a 501(c)(3) organization operating in Takhar Province, to support the implementation of a midwife training program.
NF is working with Marigold to oversee, monitor and advise the Afghan Midwives Association (AMA), which is implementing the midwife training program in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health. NF and Marigold hope to follow up the training program with a professional exchange that would include the visit to Afghanistan of a U.S. midwife and the visit to the U.S. of one to two Afghan midwives for specialized training.
This 4-month program attempts to build upon basic midwife training programs implemented in Afghanistan in the past several years. It will seek to establish and develop an on-going, periodic refresher training program that will enable local health workers to acquire and maintain professional knowledge and practice standards in midwifery. For 2008-2009, the goal is to provide training for approximately 80 midwives from various districts of Takhar Province.
NF was awarded a $20,000 grant from the American Women of International Understanding for this program. This was matched by a grant from Doris Buffet’s Sunshine Lady Foundation to Marigold. Working together, these organizations are supporting a worthwhile program that will provide for better care for expectant mothers. The program will also facilitate the exchange of knowledge between the women of the U.S. and the women of Afghanistan.
Indirect beneficiaries:
190,325 women of reproductive age (23% of total population of Takhar)
165,500 children less then 5yrs (20% of total population)
