For decades, Afghanistan has had among the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. After the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 there were only 1,000 midwives working in the country. In response, the required length of midwifery training reduced from 3 years to 18 months, which resulted in midwives feeling ill-equipped to handle abnormal deliveries.  Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, midwives are often the only qualified health workers in rural communities, and represent one of the few opportunities women have to interact with people outside their home.  The need for qualified, confident and well-trained midwives is critical to saving the lives of the women and children of Afghanistan.

One Day’s Wages is partnering with Action for Development, a Swiss-based organization founded by Afghan professionals, to reduce the incidence and prevalence of maternal mortality in Afghanistan by increasing midwives’ knowledge and confidence.  Our partnership is supporting a 12-day training program for midwives that combines classroom knowledge with hands-on practice. These trainees will then cascade the knowledge they receive to additional midwives at their respective rural health posts.  In addition, a new health center in North Kabul will offer comprehensive maternal and newborn health services that support the project’s outcomes.