Afghan Midwives Association Beginnings

The Afghan Midwives Association (AMA) was formed May 3, 2005 at an organizational meeting of 80 Afghan midwives from throughout the country. The Rules of the Association were approved and officers were elected to lead the new group. Over the next two days over 200 Afghan and international midwives assembled in Kabul for the first Afghan Midwifery Congress. Student midwives conducted a poster contest on saving mother’s lives. The Congress ended with the celebration of the International Day of the Midwife. The initiation of the association was facilitated by support from USAID ACCESS program.

“The Afghan Midwives Association aims to promote and strengthen the midwifery profession and the role of the midwife to ensure the wellbeing of the women and families in Afghanistan….”

Rules of the Afghan Midwives Association

The AMA has developed several objectives to reach their goal. The association will

Ø Promote excellence in practice through leadership, continuing education, professional accountability, and standards development.

Ø Work within the International Confederation of Midwives Code of Ethics.

Ø Increase respect for midwives knowledge, skills and experience with other health professionals including medical colleagues.

Ø Collaborate with other health professionals and agencies to provide interventions that reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

Ø Establish representatives in each province to identify and resolve midwifery issues on local level.

Ø Strengthen and advance the role of the midwife as a skilled care attendant.

Ø Advise and participate with the MOPH in health policy planning and the development of policies that support midwifery practice.

Ø Seek partnership on safe motherhood activities with other midwifery associations on an international level.

During the summer of 2005 Afghan midwives participated in international midwifery meetings: The annual meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in Washington, DC and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). At both meetings the midwives provided presentations on midwifery and maternal health in Afghanistan.

On November 2005, the AMA was accepted as a member of the International Confederation of Midwives.