BRAC University introduced the Diploma in Midwifery side by side with the Government in 2012. This innovative educational initiative, which is co-funded by the UK government and BRAC, is the first of its kind in the private sector of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has made a commitment to end preventable child and maternal deaths by 2030. For reaching the goal the healthcare planners prioritized antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), normal vaginal delivery (NVD), emergency obstetric care and newborn care which directly links to quality maternal health services. Given the plan and large number of maternity cases in Bangladesh, the country demands a huge supply of midwives to ensure healthy motherhood. An estimated 22,000 midwives will be required to meet the national need. To address this, the Government introduced midwifery into the health system. Moreover, United Nations; ‘Every Woman Every Child’ plan gives the Midwifery Programme a momentum. To help attain the country target, BRAC University launched the ‘Developing Midwives Project’ (DMP) and introduced the course in 2012 as the first ever midwifery education initiative in Bangladesh’s private sector. Funded by the UK Government, this innovative education initiative develops around 230 midwives every year in partnership with six renowned NGOs of Bangladesh.
Students Enrolled in the Midwifery Programme
Graduates in Midwifery Professions
Students Received Financial Aid to Attend Midwifery Education
Midwives are Serving at the Rohingya Refugee Camps in Cox’s Bazar
The Midwifery project has adopted an innovative ‘hub and spokes’ model where BRACU is the hub and seven Academic Sites serve as the spokes BRACU is responsible for overall implementation at these seven academic sites and is accountable to carry out all the three outputs defined in the DMP 2 logical framework. All the seven ASs receive consistent support from Brac University which is considered as hub in terms of quality education, faculty development, procurement of necessary logistics, grants management and timely reporting.
Community engagement during studentship
Supervised round the clock clinical practices
Availability of counsellor who grooms the students
Student Welfare Committee (SWC) in every academic site
On the successful completion of the course, the students will have acquired the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes as described by the essential competencies of International Confederation of Midwifery (ICM) for basic midwifery practice.