KARACHI: `I wish all girls in my village have a father like the one I had. He was blind but had a vision.

He stood behind me when everyone was telling him that there was no need for a girl to seek education miles away in Karachi,` shared Maryam Khilji, a young midwife at the launch of her book at the PMA House on Monday.

Titled Aik midwifery taliba ki diary (Diary of a midwifery student), the bool( tells about the obstacles Maryam had to face in Kandhkot, her hometown, when she opted to become a midwife as well as her emotional experiences and observations during her twoyear training at the Koohie Goth Midwifery School.

`My father in a bid to support my career went to the school and met the faculty members there. Being satisfied with the academic environment and tutors, he told me on his return that I should go for training in Karachi, she recalled during her speech before which she received a standing ovation.

Maryam`s father, however, couldn`t see her working as a midwife and passed away soon after she completed her training. She was all praise for her tutors who she found devoted and caring.

Earlier, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro welcomed the guests and spoke about some features of the book which he described as an excellent account highlighting issues related to midwifery education and training.

`It shows that she spent her two years with great dedication as she picl(ed up happenings of daily routine and wrote about them in detail, he said.The book, Dr Shoro noted, contained food for thought for every health expert.

`Maryam shares her disappointment at seeing most obstetricians without smiles and laughs when they examine pregnant women. I believe that it`s very important to have a personalrelationship with patients and take care of them like a family member.

Appreciating author`s efforts, Dr Nighat Shah, a senior gynaecologist, said: `Maryam is a brave girl from a remote village near Kundhkot. It was all because of her father and mother that she was able to pursue education in Karachi against the will of village`s elders. All the daughters of Sindh should stand up and pursue education as it`s the only means that will empower them.

Dr Riaz Memon representing the People`s Primary Healthcare Initiative said he was really impressed to see struggle of a village girl who not only successfully competed during her professional training but also wrote a diary like this one.

The bool(, he said, provided detailed information about the ups and downs in the training, feelings of pregnant women and the services done by midwives.

`I am very proud of midwives who are working all over Sindh and providing services to poor women. I will sponsor Maryam if she opts for higher education in midwifery,` he said.

Arusa Lakhani, President of Midwifery Association of Pakistan, said the book would be of great help to tutors involved in teaching of midwifery and its students.

Mr Sahbbit Jutyal, Ms Imtiaz Kamal and Dr Shehla Naeem also spoke.