U.S.-Trained Midwives Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality

Lahore, November 12, 2009 - Consul General, Carmela Conroy, at the opening ceremony of the Second National Midwifery Conference. Also in the picture are Dr. Aslam Chowdhry, DG Health, Punjab; and Dr. Rashid Jooma, DG Health, MOH.

November 12, 2009

Lahore - U.S. Consul General Carmela Conroy, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the Second National Midwifery Conference in Lahore today. The conference, supported by USAID, is part of a two-year, $10.9 million program that provides critical training to midwives across Pakistan.

"Midwives are an essential part of the healthcare for Pakistan's women - especially in rural areas," said Ms. Conroy. "Midwives are skilled birth attendants, who have the knowhow to assist mothers through the critical phases of childbirth. They have sufficient technical expertise to detect complications and provide immediate care."

The USAID program is helping to build the capacity of nursing and midwifery organizations such as the Midwifery Association of Pakistan (MAP) and the Pakistan Nursing Council. The Government of Pakistan is training 12,000 community midwives in an effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality by the year 2012.

During the ongoing conference in Lahore, participants will attend technical sessions on clinical lifesaving skills MAP office bearers will learn about management of their local chapters.