Midwifery Diploma Training Programme
Midwives are frontline health care providers playing a vital role in reducing maternal mortality.

Introduction
In Pakistan, 80 percent of births are home deliveries with only five percent attended by qualified personnel. This is one of the contributing factors to high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in Pakistan. Currently all initiatives, projects and programme are directed to women’s health and maternal care, in particular aimed at providing skilled and trained health care for women.

Modern midwifery is the art and science of providing professional services to an expectant mother throughout the maternity cycle ensuring a normal pregnancy, safe delivery and normal puerperium.

Training Overview
The 15-month Midwifery Diploma Training Programme is affiliated with the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) and the Sindh Nurses Examination Board (SNEB). It increases the young woman’s clinical competency, professionalism and commitment to obstetrical care.

Initial lessons are conducted in the Skills Lab where students are trained before providing direct patient care. In accordance with PNC requirements all School Skill Labs equipped with basic teaching materials for students to learn, practice and put Midwifery concepts to practice. These facilities are openly accessible to all students.

Upon completion, graduates usually join the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan, government or non-government health organizations. Most pursue further education and become Lady Health Visitors, or Nurse Midwives. Trained midwives are an essential in any maternity care facility and in the Primary Health Care Programme.

The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) registers the Hospital’s licensed midwives to be specialists in normal obstetrics and provide obstetrical and gynecological care for healthy women.

Eligibility Qualifications
•	45 percent in Matriculation examinations;
•	Candidates with a science background and higher Secondary education are preferred.
Age
•	15 - 30 years;
•	Married women are encouraged to apply but maternity leave is not granted during the training period.
Application Requirements
•	Completed Application Form;
•	Two photocopies of Metric / Intermediate / BA / BSc certificates with mark-sheets duly attested by a Government Seventeen Grade Official;
•	Two photocopies of metric certificates;
•	Birth certificate or any document indicating date of birth;
•	Provide two photocopies of domicile (if Metric education was granted outside of Karachi);
•	Submit one recent passport size photograph (name printed clearly at back)
•	A non-refundable application fee.
Admission Test All students are required to sit for an English, General Knowledge and Mathematics Aptitude Test. Interview Process Applicants are short-listed for interviews based on admission test results. The interview assesses a candidate’s integrity, motivation, interest in the programme, maturity and commitment to the profession.

>  Download application form

Students can submit their applications to the preferred institution of study:
The Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre Plot 4/2, Jamshoro Road Hyderabad, Pakistan
Telephone	+92 221 614 172, 614 173, 614 174
The Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Karimabad Street 6/D, Aisha Manzil F.B. Area, Karachi
Telephone	+92 21 631 9950, 632 0465
The Aga Khan Hospital for Women, Garden 515, Gold Street, Garden East, Karachi 74800 Pakistan
Telephone	+92 21 721 8282, 721 0522, 721 0966
The Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children, Kharadar Atmaram Pritamdas Road, Off Aga Khan Road Kharadar, Karachi Pakistan
Telephone	+92 21 752 6315, 752 4618, 754 2187

Curriculum
The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) designed midwifery curriculum is delivered at all schools. A student must complete a total of 288 theory hours, spending two hours daily in the classroom under close clinical supervision by faculty, senior nursing staff and doctors.

Students are required to complete 1332 hours in different clinical areas and complete 25 normal deliveries as required by the PNC. All students must attain 95 percent attendance.

According to PNC guidelines, all candidates should enroll in 12 weeks of Preliminary Training Session (PTS) followed by 12 months of the midwifery-training programme.

Student Examination and Assessment
All students are required to enrol with the Sindh Nurses Examination Board (SNEB) through the respective institutions within two months of admission. By the end of the training programme, students must sit for the SNEB Examinations. During the Preliminary Training Sessions, there are monthly unit tests. The passing score is 50 percent. Other assessment includes case presentation, written assignments and tutorials.

Accommodation
According to Pakistan Nursing Council policy, local students can reside with their parents or guardian; however punctuality, training rules and regulations must be observed.

Non-local students can apply to reside at the Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children, Kharadar (Karachi) and Aga Khan Maternal and Childcare Centre Hyderabad accommodation facilities.

Annual Academic Calendar: 2003 - 2004
Apr - May 2004	Admissions announced and application forms distributed
Jun 2004	Admission Tests, Short List announced and Interviews
Jul 2004	Class begins
Jul - Aug 2004	Preliminary Training Sessions (PTS)
Sept 2004 - Aug 2005	Regular Program
Sept 2005	Final SNEB Examination

History
The Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHS, P) established midwifery schools in Karachi and Hyderabad to meet Pakistan’s greatest health challenges - ensuring healthy pregnancies and safe delivery. Availability and support of trained midwives is an essential component of overcoming this challenge and improving a women’s birth experience.

In 1967, AKHS, P began its first midwifery-training programme at the Jan Bai Maternity Home, Kharadar (known today as the Aga khan Hospital for Women and Children, Kharadar). As the organisation grew and demand for midwives increased, this programme extended to the Garden and Karimabad Maternity Homes in 1971 and 1979 respectively. The fourth midwifery school was inaugurated in Hyderabad in 1980.

So far, 2000 midwives have graduated with an average of 70 students successfully completing the programme annually.

Mission
The School’s mission is to provide high quality education for midwives to become competent, ethical and compassionate care providers to women and children in hospitals and community health care facilities. The Midwifery School also provides information and educational services that support women’s knowledge, skills and help improve and sustain their health and well-being.

Vision
The Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan’s midwifery schools are recognised as “Model Midwifery Training Schools” with the aim of enhancing the well being of women and children in Pakistan. These schools are recognised nationally for quality teaching and acknowledged for its leadership in enhancing midwifery as a profession.