tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443127114745669893.post7359918555551220568..comments2023-04-13T06:10:27.793-07:00Comments on AZIZ BAIG: Role of Midwives in Improving Maternal and Child Health in AfghanistanAziz Baighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00896124271612321242noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443127114745669893.post-64609689124748595252018-05-02T18:39:43.391-07:002018-05-02T18:39:43.391-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12805222145967499949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443127114745669893.post-13598032358345724122013-12-03T11:28:39.519-08:002013-12-03T11:28:39.519-08:00Thank you very much Dr. Aziz for recognizing the e...Thank you very much Dr. Aziz for recognizing the efforts of the grass root level health worker’s services and contribution for the Afghan community. Indeed, Community Mid-Wives plays a vital role in reducing maternal and infant mortalities in rural marginalized settings where geographical topography, weather/climatic conditions and poverty are the major barriers to access to health facilities. In the context of Gilgit-Baltistan there are three types of community based health workers; those are the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and the newly cadre are the community mid-wives (CMWs). Previously, the TBAs were conducting home deliveries (home deliveries are still practicing in many parts of GB) but for a number of reasons the Government Health Department is not encouraging deliveries conducting by these TBAs so they are not the skilled birth attendants as per the government’s definition. The role of LHWs is limited to health education, providing antenatal care, promoting family planning practices and record community based health statistics. The CMWs are the only community based health workers who can conduct deliveries besides providing antenatal, natal and post natal care of women. Currently, there are 135 CMWs in GB who are trained by the Department of Health (DoH) and the Aga Khan Health Services Pakistan under Maternal Care and Child Survival (MCCS: DFATD funded) Project in collaboration with the DoH deployed 37 CMWs (more will be deployed) in district Hunza-Nagar, Gilgit, Astore and Ghizar. These CMWs were provided the CMW delivery kits, built their capacities, provided monthly supplies of medicines and now they are conducting deliveries in the far-flung areas. There are a number of case studies and stories where CMWs played their role in identifying risk pregnancies and timely referred patients to next level facilities. There is one CMW in a district who has conducted 22 deliveries in four months. And all these CMWs are providing free of cost services to the communities.<br />The CMWs role is significant in these days in the rural settings. Besides saving lives of mother, it is also economically beneficial for the oppressed and low income families. In these days the health expenditure is very high but the travel cost in the mountainous areas is much higher than the actual health costs. So there is need to raise awareness at mass level to take benefits from such door step facilities for conducting normal deliveries. <br /><br /><br />Obliged<br />Fayaz KarimAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213961286727248483noreply@blogger.com