238 midwives awarded certificates
Sunday, December 07, 2008 – The News International – Karachi
Midwives are stalwart, backbone and frontline of medical services, said Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of the Aga Khan.
In her video address at the graduation ceremony of 238 midwives across the country managed by Aga Khan Health Service here on Saturday, Princess Zahra said that the midwives were the ones who go out to communities and carry their knowledge with them to save lives, wherever they go.
They work tirelessly in the cold of winter and the heat of summer; despite often trying circumstances, isolation and loneliness to bring comfort to the most remote rural homes, villages and families, she said, adding: “This is indeed a noble profession”.
Princess Zahra said: “There is good evidence to show that the Community Midwifery Program has had huge impact on standard of living and mortality rate in Northern Areas and Chitral during the last 20 years.”
While welcoming new midwives, she said they were the next generation of women to deliver this phenomenal impact.
She said that the Community Midwifery Program was a source of great pride and honour for the network.
Speaking as chief guest, Ms. Nighat Durani, Registrar Pakistan Nursing Council, while highlighting the importance of midwives, said that this profession has gained both acceptance and recognition in society.
Ms. Durani said that AKHS programme was not just the pioneer of quality healthcare in Pakistan but also the pioneer of women education in Pakistan. “It is easy to achieve and difficult to maintain, but achieving the top positions, on continuous basis for the last many years in midwifery exams, speaks about the quality of education available at AKHS schools,” she added.
Parents, teachers and friends attended the programme in large numbers, where 238 female students from across Pakistan were awarded certificates of participation in Diploma in Midwifery Education at the graduation ceremony of midwifery schools, managed by the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan. The students registered for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 were recognized as midwives and vanguards of quality healthcare, especially catering to the mother and child healthcare needs.
Ismailimail 