Press Release

First Class of Afghan Community Midwives Graduates in Khost Province

KHOST, AFGHANISTAN  | Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Khost – Afghanistan: On March 08, 2006 – International Women’s Day - Minister of Public Health Dr. Fatimi, United States Ambassador Ronald Neumann, Governor Marajuddin Patan and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Alonzo Fulgham attended the graduation of the first class of the USAID-funded Community Midwifes Education (CME) Program in Khost Province. Thirty new community midwives graduated from an 18-month training program. These midwives will take up posts in rural health facilities throughout Khost province.

The USAID-supported REACH Project and the Ministry of Public Health established the Community Midwife Education Program in six provinces.  To-date, a total of 413 midwives have been trained to provide health care services to mothers and newborns. The USAID-supported REACH program will graduate 380 midwives in Badakhshan, Takhar, Jawzjan, Bamyan and Paktya.

U.S Ambassador Ronald Neumann, on the occasion of graduation ceremony said “No nation can truly succeed without the contribution of its entire population. As these midwives prove, women are equally able to make essential contributions to the health and success of their country.”