Message from the MIDSON’s President

Warm greetings to all in the Midwifery Society of Nepal (MIDSON) Network!

As the newly elected President of the Professional Association of Midwives in Nepal, I am honored to work with all MIDSON members and stakeholders during my tenure. I would like to recognize the leadership of the immediate past president and last year’s board.

On behalf of MIDSON, I would like to thank you for visiting our website. Before anything else, I would like to share a brief history of our journey towards the development of midwifery in Nepal. In 2010, a group of 11 nurses working in nine different organizations, including academic institutions, clinical and development sectors, who were passionate about maternity care, women’s health and development, and gender equality, came together to establish a professional association of midwives, even though we did not have professional midwives back then.

In the last 13 years, we have made significant progress in midwifery in Nepal. Currently, we have 51 professional midwives registered in our regulatory body, the Nepal Nursing Council (NNC), and around 200 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Midwifery education program in five different academic institutions in Nepal. The first batch of midwifery education intake started in 2016, followed by 2017, 2019, and 2021 in National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu University,  Karnali Academy of Medical Sciences, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, and Patan Academy of Health Science.

However, we still have a long way to go in developing and deploying the midwifery workforce in the national public health delivery system and strengthening midwifery in the country. Our goal is to ensure that each and every pregnancy has a positive experience, and childbirth is safer and more respectful. To achieve this vision, mission, and goal, we work closely with the government of Nepal and national and international development partners, including academia.

Midwifery is a unique profession, and midwives are defenders of women’s health rights. I would like to urge all professionals and people who believe that childbearing women deserve high-quality dignified maternity care to support the strengthening and growth of the midwifery profession in Nepal and embed it in our national healthcare delivery system.

It is an honor and privilege for me to serve with the outgoing President, she is passionate about the Midwifery Society and our members and has led the Society in a stellar fashion.

Midwives are public health heroes who ensure that a woman can have a healthy pregnancy, safe childbirth, and essential care for her newborn. This is among the most basic human rights, and we have seen the evidence and understand the need for investment and protection in midwifery. Now is the time for action to empower girls and women and reduce maternal and child mortality.

Wishing you all the best!

Prof. Goma Devi Niraula

President

Midwifery Society of Nepal