From Crisis to Care—How Midwives are Changing Maternal Outcomes in Rural Afghanistan with Trude Thommessen

An International Women’s Day Special—Join us as we speak with Trude Thommessen, an Academic Development Midwife and Clinical supervisor at Stavanger University Hospital, about her incredible work training midwives in Afghanistan. She shares insights into the critical shortage of midwives there, the challenges of education and training in a conservative society, and how simulation-based learning has played a crucial role in improving maternal care. 

We also discuss the “Three Delays” concept—why Afghan women struggle to access timely medical care—and how community midwives are not only saving lives but also becoming empowered role models in their villages.