Webinar on World Midwifery Day: Who will survive the aid cuts?
This webinar on World Midwifery Day focused on maternal and child healthcare as a central component of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
This webinar focused on Afghanistan, where maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Afghanistan’s maternal healthcare system suffers from acute resource shortages, a lack of qualified personnel, and restrictions that limit women’s ability to seek care. The healthcare system is now at risk of collapse following the withdrawal of major international donors. What does this mean for mothers, children, and future generations?
On World Midwifery Day, the Solidarity Committee for Afghanistan launched a policy brief on midwifery in Afghanistan and invited participants to a discussion on the critical role of midwives in promoting public health and reducing maternal and infant mortality. What are the consequences for healthcare systems and societal development when international aid, which has been essential for investments in women’s health, suddenly disappears? How is maternal mortality affected when clinics close, midwifery training programs are shut down, and life-saving funding is no longer available?
Through conversations with experts and examples from Afghanistan, the webinar highlighted both challenges and potential ways forward. The conversation focused on why continued support for SRHR work is crucial and how we can protect the right to safe pregnancy and childbirth for women.
When: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 11.30 AM Sweden time.
Where: On Zoom.