International Day of the Midwife 2022

Afghanistan mothers & midwives need support more than ever. Strengthening midwifery education, regulation & association in Afghanistan is associated with reduction of maternal and new born mortality and increase the quality and respectful care. For the Afghan Midwives Association, the International Day of the Midwife 2022 is an opportunity to honor midwives who have worked under the most challenging circumstances to provide quality, respectful care to ensure safe motherhood. It is also a time to remember the midwives who worked around the clock with no protective equipment to safeguard themselves from Covid19 yet remained on the frontlines to save others. Unfortunately, many midwives have sacrificed their lives in recent years due to their endeavors to offer the best possible care to Afghan mothers and children. There is no doubt that Afghanistan has made significant progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality over the previous three decades, and midwives have played a critical part in this achievement. But besides its outstanding accomplishments, Afghanistan’s health system faced numerous challenges during the previous administration, including a lack of supplies, equipment, security, and trained personnel. Now, the Afghan health system is encountering hundreds of new challenges due to recent political upheavals and the withdrawal of international assistance to support Afghanistan’s new administration. The Afghan Midwives Association has constantly urged for the international community and the Taliban regime to give special attention to Afghanistan’s maternal health services to avoid the recurrence of rising maternal and neonatal mortality. The International Day of the Midwife 2022 will be celebrated virtually, with the participation of midwives and international and national stakeholders, to honor all midwives’ sacrifices and to reaffirm that “More than ever, Afghanistan’s moms and midwives demand world support. “