Professor Dr. Hamdia Mirkhan Ahmed has a BSc in Nursing from Arak Branch of Islamic Azad University, and an MSc and Ph.D. degree in Maternity Nursing from Hawler Medical University. She was a member of the establishing committee of the College of Nursing in Erbil city and was also the head of the Kurdistan Scientific Nurses Association for five years. Hamdia was responsible for directing the Center for Research and Education in Women’s Health (CREWH) for six years and has published over 100 research papers in nursing, midwifery, women’s health, health services research, conflict and health, and medical education. She is interested in improving the nursing and midwifery profession in the Kurdistan region and serves on the Editorial Board of Reproductive Health as an Associate Editor.

How does your research relate to the SDGs?

As my specialty and background study is related to maternity nursing, the majority of my research is focused on women’s health which is directly related to SDG 3.1 (Maternal Mortality), SDG 3.7 (Sexual and Reproductive Health), SDG 16.1 (Violence),  and also indirectly to additional SDG3 targets focusing on newborn and child mortality (3.1), enhancing the health workforce (3c), and ensuring universal health coverage (3.8). In particular, nurses and midwives comprise the majority of the health workforce in health systems in any country and they are a major contributing factor to implementing universal health coverage.   

Why did you decide to go into your field of research?

My father always believed that midwifery was an ideal profession for women, and he encouraged me to pursue it for my BSc degree. However, I chose nursing instead, following my own path. After earning my BSc, I reflected on my father's perspective and recognized the importance of midwifery. This led me to specialize in Maternity Nursing for my MSc, eventually continuing into a PhD. Over time, my passion for women's health grew, and I dedicated my research to this field. I deeply admire women for their strength, vulnerability, and the vital roles they play in society - bringing new life into the world, building families, and fostering connections within communities. Looking back, I now appreciate my father's vision and take pride in the journey that led me here.

How has the knowledge of maternal health developed over the course of your career?

Before I began my career, maternal and women's healthcare was largely limited to basic antenatal care, vaccinations, and delivery services. However, after training numerous students at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels in Maternity Nursing and Midwifery, the scope of care has expanded significantly. Today, it encompasses everything from pre-marriage counseling to menopause management. Antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care have become more comprehensive, ensuring that women in labor receive professional care from BSc-trained nurses and midwives. The reliance on traditional birth attendants has decreased, leading to fewer complications caused by inadequate maternal care. Additionally, our graduates have provided essential services in inpatient departments and refugee camps during and after the ISIS conflict in Iraq. Moving forward, we are committed to implementing necessary healthcare services across both public and private sectors.

What challenges do vulnerable populations in particular face?

Women at any ages, especially adolescents and menopausal women are vulnerable, particularly in developing countries and the Middle East.  They experience many challenges ranging from social and cultural issues to access to health care. The Middle East in particular contains unstable political and economic areas that are continuously experiencing a source of suffering from poor status to violence.

What are your hopes for progress in the future?

I hope maternal and women’s health will be considered as a priority for international action and in results the communities suffer less and less. The normal and natural life itself is challenging especially for women and we as a literate society must try and ensure peace and friendly life situations. Our research must be a loud voice for changing the future of women and convert the challenges to a healthy environment for developing and empowering women and families.  

World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April each year, aims to promote wellbeing and health. Organised by the World Health Organisation, the 2025 campaign, titled "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures", will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise women’s longer-term health and wellbeing, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 3. 

For more content on World Health Day 2025, please check out our research highlights blog here.