America's North Shore Journal

Twenty-four Afghan women were certified to deliver babies as they graduated from the Nurse Midwife Training Program during a ceremony in Gardez district, Oct. 3. The ceremony marked the completion of the third iteration of the training program, which equips 24 students with basic midwifery skills to serve in Paktya’s developing maternity and women’s healthcare industry. Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world; approximately 16 out of 1,000 new mothers die from birthing complications, The Paktya Department of Health, using programs such as the midwife training, aims to reduce the provincial rate by 50 percent. According to U.S. Air Force Maj Anita Chapel, Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team Medical Officer, who attended the ceremony, the training is expected to benefit Afghan women throughout the province. “The females who graduated will return … Read entire article »