By U.S. Army Spc. James Wilton
Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Afghan Ministry of Health held an inauguration ceremony to mark the start of a tri-provincial midwife program in Charikar Jan. 6.
Sixty female students from Parwan, Panjshir and Kapisa provinces will attend 26 months of instruction before receiving midwife certificates, allowing them to begin work in their local clinics.
The ceremony was attended by the students and instructors as well as important members of the Afghan Ministry of Health including Dr. Abdunl Qadir who is in charge of the midwife program; Parwan Provincial Gov. Abdul Baseer Salangi; Dr. Mohammad Sabegh Saberi with the Ministry of Higher Education of Parwan Province; and Shah Yazdan Parast with the Parwan province Department of Women Affairs.
Representatives from coalition forces groups involved in the program also attended including Dr. HyunJoo Song, the Korea International Cooperation Agency gender and education specialist who works with the Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team; U.S. Army 2nd Lt. David Miller of Oswego, Ill., and U.S. Army Capt. Felix Gregorian of North Chelmsford, Mass., both members of the Civil-Military Support Team, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion.
“I would like to thank the Korean and U.S. PRTs for their assistance with this program,” Salangi said. “This is a great program for our nation, our sisters and the future of our babies and their health.”
The program will consist of instruction in normal childbirth, neonatal care, pediatric care and recognition of emergency situations during childbirth, along with training and classes on other skills which will enhance the students’ resumes, in turn, increasing their job opportunities.
“Mothers, sisters, women and ladies, learn and be proud to serve Afghanistan and work from the bottom of your heart, diligently with love and a deep sense of responsibility as you do this service to your country,” said Dr. Raessa Sabir a provincial council member specializing in women’s rights.
This is the fourth midwife program in Afghanistan and is part of an attempt by the government and coalition forces to decrease the maternal and infant mortality rates and improve the quality of life for the Afghan people. Afghanistan has the second-highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the world due in a large part to the lack of certified health care specialists and proper neonatal care.
“This is a very big and very proud moment in the life of our women and moms,” Qadir said. “Out of 100,000 moms giving birth, 16,000 die because of complications; Afghanistan is second in the world for this problem. The training and knowledge you receive from this program will help women and children to survive birth at a higher rate.”
The ceremony concluded with a traditional Afghan tea luncheon where attendees gathered to speak about the program and the future of women’s rights and women’s education in Afghanistan.
“We are very happy for the chance to be a part of this program and give our thanks to the Afghan government and coalition forces for making it possible,” said a nurse and student in the midwife program.
| Date Taken: |
01.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
01.10.2011 07:49 |
| Story ID: |
63291 |
| Location: |
PARWAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
40 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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