Asia's First Strategic Meeting Makes History: Midwifery Leaders Unite in Islamabad

By Shabbir Hussain Jhatial

The Midwives Alliance of Asia (MAA)  holds its first-ever Strategic Directions Meeting in Islamabad under hosting of Aga Khan University School of Nursing & Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) and Midwifery Association of Pakistan(MAP).

Dean AKU-SONAM  Dr. Salimah Walani, spoke as Guest of Honor in preliminary session while

 Dr. Rafat Jan, Associate Dean of Outreach & Policy at AKU-SONAM and President of the MAP , led this South to South  initiative  in three-day-long consultative session.

This Strategic Meeting brought together midwifery leaders from ten member countries : the Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,  UAE, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Yemen and a representative from Bahrain's Supreme Council and GCC countries of Middle East.

The goal of the multi-national initiative was aimed to advance Midwifery across the Asian  context by fostering South to South collaboration among member states'  midwifery leaders. This trend setting  meeting successfully made a preliminary draft of strategic directions of Midwives Alliance of Asia outlining the areas for collaboration and cooperation among midwife professions of the above named nations. 

It is noteworthy that Pakistan held that first meeting that took the first ever step in making a unified Midwives effort to improve sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health SRMNCAH) of member countries population. The South to South Cooperation is a sort of replication of midwives' regional cooperation as in South American countries, in East Europe and in Far East Asia countries.

This far reaching strategic activity was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the New Venture Fund (NVF) while the AKUSO NMi and MAP supported and hosted the member countries's delegates in Islamabad. Dr. Rafat Jan,  President MAP and Lead Initiator of MIdwives Alliance was quoted as saying,  “We are deeply grateful to the BMGF and NVF for their support to the Midwives Alliance of Asia in setting the regional directions for collaboration among member countries midwives leaders.  

The distinguished participants made thoughtful contributions, offering invaluable insights that will help shape future course of "South-to-South Collaboration,” . The collective efforts of Midwives leadership across the Middle East to Far East nations' delegates highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare.  “...Healthy mothers and healthy babies are the cornerstone of a healthy nation. Pakistan’s midwives deserve recognition for leading the effort to strengthen midwifery across Asia,” said Della Sherratt -  International Midwifery Advisor and Technical Advisor for the MAA workshop.

With continued support it is envisioned that the MAA is positioned to drive significant improvements in maternal, neonatal and child healthcare across Asia with wider experience sharing. The delegates pledged to influence their policy makers to widen the cooperation to achieve SDGs through South to South collaboration as envisioned by Midwives Alliance of Asia. the MAA.

The delegates visited the Pakistan Nursing-Midwifery Council and Higher Education secretariats  where they were briefed about the regulatory process of licensure and accreditations of nurse-midwife professionals. The MAP's Board members from all provinces and GB also participated in the sessions along with nominated academia of AKUSONAM. The three day congregation ended with momento presentations and traditional midwifery songs expecting another meeting at another destination.