A heartfelt passion for midwifery, and experience spanning nearly four decades in the field, Dr Rafat Jan continues her quest for midwifery advancement and promotion as she takes the reins as President, Midwifery Association of Pakistan, MAP.
MAP is a non-governmental professional body for midwives, lady health visitors (LHVs), and nurse-midwives, established in 2005 to tackle the challenge of high maternal and under-5 child mortality rates, and family planning, through the strengthening of midwifery practice across Pakistan, especially in rural areas with low access to healthcare facilities.
The Midwifery Association plays a crucial role in advocating for policy changes, supporting professional development, and fostering a community of dedicated midwives across the country.
This is the second time that Dr Jan has been appointed as President of MAP - her first tenure running between 2014 to 2017. She now succeeds Arusa Lakhani, who is also an alumna and faculty member at AKU-SONAM, and led the association from 2020 to 2023.
“I am deeply honored to have been chosen for this position. My larger vision is to elevate the standards of midwifery practice to ensure that every woman receives the care and support she deserves during the precious moments of childbirth," said Dr Jan, further emphasizing the need for continued education and training, awareness about the role of midwives, and the implementation of policies that support midwifery-led care.
A graduate of the founding batch of AKU-SONAM, Dr Jan holds many feathers in her cap. These include being the first nurse President of the Pakistan Nursing Council; the first nurse from Pakistan to become a board member of the International Confederation of Midwives; founding editor of the
Journal of Asian Midwives; founding director of AKU’s midwifery programme; founding director of STTI’s
Rho Delta Chapter in Pakistan; among many others.
“Dr Jan’s appointment signals a pivotal moment for the advancement of midwifery in Pakistan. As a witness to her dedication and passion for maternal and child health, her appointment as President of MAP makes me very hopeful about a brighter future for all professionals joining and practicing in this field. I am glad that through Dr Rafat Jan, AKU-SONAM will be partnering in this crucial mission,” said Dr Tazeen Saeed Ali, professor and interim dean, AKU-SONAM.
After her diplomas in nursing and midwifery in the early 80s, Dr Rafat Jan completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from AKU-SONAM in 1991, followed by MScN in 1994 from the University of South Carolina, USA, and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Iowa in 2004.
She currently serves as the Ali Saju endowed professor and associate dean of outreach and policy at the AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan.
