A Dream Fulfilled: A Midwife’s Journey to Safe Births in Rural Bangladesh

Khulna, Bangladesh - “That day, I was not just a midwife—I was a dream fulfiller.” For Afsana Akhter, a young midwife from Jatrapur union, the delivery of the first baby in her newly established labor room was the realization of a long-held dream—for herself, for the mothers in her community, and for a health system striving to provide dignity and safety in childbirth.

Raised in a modest farming family, Afsana’s journey into midwifery began out of necessity, but it has grown into a passion to ensure that every woman gives birth safely, with compassion and care.

Remembering her early career, Afsana said, “During my internship, I saw that mothers’ wishes were not given much importance during childbirth. Many times, they wished to be accompanied by a close person, but this was not allowed in the labor room. I decided that every mother who came to me should feel comfort and peace at that moment.”

In 2021, Afsana was posted to the Jatrapur Sub-health Center in Bagerhat District. The conditions were discouraging—no proper equipment, and no women coming for deliveries. Undeterred, she began to engage local community leaders and fellow health workers, and conducted grassroots outreach with immunization teams, going door-to-door to explain the role of midwives. Slowly, mothers began to trust and come forward.

Her dream, however, was larger: a dedicated labor room in the health center. For three years, it remained just a dream until UNFPA intervened,  equipped the centre with essential supplies and provided Afsana with refresher training to boost her skills and confidence. The transformation was dramatic. Just last month, 85 mothers came for antenatal care, and early this month, Afsana delivered the first healthy baby at the center. The client, overjoyed with her safe and successful birth, declared that "no mother needs to go elsewhere; everyone should have their deliveries here."

This week, Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to safe motherhood by launching the third edition of the National Labor Room Management Protocol, developed with leadership from the Ministry of Health together with UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, and partners. This updated protocol will ensure that mothers and newborns, even in remote or climate-affected areas, will receive safe, respectful, and high-quality care. For midwives like Afsana, it provides clear standards, the right training, and a supportive system to save lives across all levels of health care.

As Afsana passionately believes, “If every midwife gets the opportunity and the environment to work freely and sincerely, then one day maternal deaths in our country will not only decrease, they will be eliminated.”

Bangladesh has made significant progress by deploying 2,557 midwives in rural facilities since 2010. Yet, over 25,000 midwives are required to meet the needs of women and girls. The government is creating new posts, but greater investment and the rapid deployment of additional midwives are essential.