Perched on a small hill in Baharka, on the outskirts of Erbil, the Nursing and Midwifery Development Center (NMDC) stands ready to fulfill its mission. Opened in January 2024 after years of dedicated effort, the NMDC is set to provide continuing education aimed at improving the access, safety, and quality of healthcare for everyone in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The need to enhance healthcare in Kurdistan is clear, as the sector has encountered significant challenges over the years.
The NMDC distinguishes itself in the region by offering clinical simulation labs that serve as the gold standard for healthcare professionals’ continuing education. By practicing clinical care in a safe, simulated environment, learners can master both practical and communication skills before engaging with real patients and their families, an approach that is crucial for ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare.
The NMDC is a non-governmental organization (NGO) registered with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Department of Non-Government Organization. It provides training for the staff of public hospitals and primary healthcare centers and community services free of charge, ensuring that anyone with an interest or need has full access to these opportunities.
The NMDC’s activities encompass a wide range of initiatives, including continuing education, the advancement of nursing and midwifery professions, research, advisory and consultancy services, and advocacy. Notable projects include a Cancer Screening Mobile Unit, set to launch in October 2024, which will provide free breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings, and a home-based Palliative Care Service currently under development. These efforts are just a glimpse of the potential to enhance the health and well-being of people in the Kurdistan Region.
The NMDC’s expansive facilities boast 11 state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratories, covering all major nursing and midwifery specialties. The laboratories include a first-aid and life support simulation lab; an ambulance simulator; an emergency room; an operating theater; adult and neonatal intensive care units; adult, pediatric, and midwifery units; a clinical skills lab; and a community laboratory. Additionally, the NMDC is equipped with modern classrooms, a library, and a computer lab featuring the latest technology to enhance practical training. The conference section can accommodate up to 250 participants, offering extensive opportunities for events and activities tailored to healthcare professionals and the local community.
Outdoors, the 10,000-square-meter lot, generously allocated to the NMDC by the Erbil Governorate, awaits the development of the Emergency Preparedness and Response training field. This future facility will enable the NMDC to train healthcare providers and community members in effective first-response techniques for both natural and man-made disasters and emergencies.
Supported by two NGOs, Latter-day Saint Charities and the Stirling Foundation from the United States – both of which have a long-standing commitment to improving healthcare, education, and emergency response in the Kurdistan Region – the NMDC aims to make a meaningful and lasting impact. The Center aspires to elevate the education and skills of healthcare providers and ensure that this new knowledge is effectively applied in practice.
The NMDC relies on funding and donations to perform its services. To ensure its financial stability and sustainability, a charitable foundation was established under section 501(c)3 of the tax code in the United States to support the Center’s work. Non-financial support comes from the NMDC Board of Advisors and a strong network of local and international organizations and individuals who believe in the NMDC’s vision.
The Board of Advisors comprises international nursing experts from five countries who determine the Center’s strategic direction and ensure that the NMDC performs its purposes for the public benefit. The Board also oversees the Executive Team, which is headed by a UK-registered nurse consultant who is responsible for operations and the achievement of NMDC’s objectives.
At the NMDC, a strong and capable team has established processes that enable the delivery of large-scale continuing education and the pursuit of international accreditation. Collaboration with international educational and healthcare institutions, as well as health professionals, is central to the NMDC’s mission. This ethos of working together for the common good brings global expertise to the Kurdistan Region through a trusted local partner, ensuring long-term, context-sensitive engagement in the area.
Cooperation with local and regional partners is critical for the success of the NMDC and its work, as meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery can only be achieved through the joint efforts of NGOs, governmental entities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and on-the-ground healthcare providers. To accomplish these objectives, the NMDC maximizes the use of its facilities by also hosting and facilitating projects and activities led by governmental and non-governmental partners. By offering its space to these organizations, the NMDC extends the reach of its world-class facilities, benefiting as many users as possible.
What began a decade ago as a dream to establish a professional framework for training Kurdistan’s nurses and midwives has evolved into an organization with a modern facility that meets international standards and carries a vision to transform health services in the region. Through the ongoing education of healthcare providers, the NMDC is poised to make a significant impact on improving healthcare delivery in Kurdistan.
Eva Said MSc, BSc, RN, Certified Global Nurse Consultant (CGFNS International, USA) is a UK-registered nurse, nurse educator, and the Director of the NMDC. She is also a EMRO Region facilitator of the Global Nursing Leadership Institute of the International Council of Nurses, Geneva, Switzerland.
