Health Dept.Sindh-RMNCH & Pathfinders- BHF - US-AID Initiative: 14-Community Midwife's Schools to be Digitalized

By: Shabir Hussain Jhatial

Principal.Korangi-CON Sindh

Pathfinders-led initiative "Building Healthy Families (BHF)" held 1-Day Seminar aimed to sensitize and seek approval to modernise Teaching Learning Methodologies in Sindh's CMW Schools in liaison with Regional Maternal Neonatal Child Health(RMNCH),  Directorate of Nursing Sindh, SNEB & Midwifery Association of Pakistan with the support of US-Agency for International Development (US-AID) . 

The organizers  of one day session held at Marriot Hotel's Dampukht Hall, Dr. Khalid Memon, Deputy DG R-MNCH, Dr.Farhana Memon, Program Director R-MNCH revealed that  though all sister provinces had abodoned CMW program terming it ineffective and unutilized product but thanks to Minister Health Dr. Azra Fazal unwavering support for development of the Midwifery workforce that it still continues under R-MNCH administration as a success story.

 Dr. Khalid Memon told that almost 3000 CMWs trained at their 26 CMW Schools are presently employed in Peoples Primary Health Initiative (PPHI) health facilities spread across the rural and peri urban regions of the province. He further told that scores of our trained CMW are serving in National and Global agencies aimed to lessen the alarming MMR and IMRs. The RMNCH Program Director Dr. Farhana Memon informed that out of 26 CMW schools ran under RMNCH, 14 have been selected for upgradation and digitalization of all curricular activities in the first phase. 

The Country Director Pathfinder  Ms. Madiha Latif, and Dr. Fayaz Ahmed,Dr. Yousif Ilyas Chief Deputy Chief of (BHF) Party of Pathfinder said that through the US Agency of International Development, Sindh province is getting its 19 schools digitalized in the first phase. They praised R-MNCH and Health Dept. Govt of Sindh for effective paperwork and approval of the program. Dr. Zaib of Pathfinders  Sindh stands tall with 19 projects under implementation  while all three sister provinces together have 12 institutes upgradation through  BHF projects.

In her introductory address Director Nursing Sindh Ms.Najma Mangi extended her directorate's  full cooperation in this phase of upgradation of schools. She asked R-MNCH Head Dr. Khalid and Dr. Farhana Memon to streamlin in their development schemes two more CMW Schools namely Liaqat Abad Midwifery School and Qatar College of Nursing & Midwifery Orangi both  run under Directorate of Nursing and face more or less needs. The program was anchored by Ms. Fakhrunissa Deputy Director Nursing and later on Ms. Farhana Memon also facilitated the proceeding that continued the entire day.

The distinguished participants included Controller SNEB Ms. Iram Shad, Asst Director Aamir Rajpar, Lead Midwifery Expert & Presenter Ms.Mahmooda Kgwaja, Ms.Samina Shabir of CDF/ MAP, Ex Directors Nursing and Ex.Controllers of SNEB Ms. Rubina Shar, Khairunisa, Shabir Jhatial and almost 20 Principals/ Teachers of CMW & Public Health Schools across Sindh who agreed with proposed digitalization through equipments, & AV Aids decreasing paper dependency on teaching learning.

On the proposals of Principals for capacity building of CMW teachers was accepted by Program Director R-MNCH who asked the principals to submit their proposals for specific trainings for capacity building of CMW teachers

The full day deliberations of senior academics and experts also identified disarray in CMW Curriculum that could be rectified by the Principals and Controller of SNEB before the digitalization process sets in action.