History

Two organizations with a shared name and mission

Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation (NMDF)
United States 501(c)(3) charitable organization

Nursing and Midwifery Development Centre (NMDC)
Iraqi-based non-governmental organization

The Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation (NMDF) began in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with Eva Said, Founder and Executive Director of the Nursing and Midwifery Development Centre (NMDC). After living there and experiencing the healthcare needs of the local residents, Eva identified a clear need: nurses wanted to do more, but they lacked support, training, and space to grow. Starting small, Eva began training nurses in local hospitals and small classrooms. She quickly outgrew the space available and dreamed of building a state-of-the-art facility where nurses and midwives could learn, practice, and thrive. She partnered with the humanitarian representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to make that dream a reality. The Church contributed enough funding to build the facility.

Carolyn Melby, NMDF’s Co-Founder, recognized the power of Eva’s vision from the very start. She had decades of experience in global nursing policy and advocacy, having worked in multiple Asian countries to build the nursing profession. After retiring from her full-time work, Carolyn pivoted her expertise to Kurdistan. She partnered with Eva to help bring her dream to life, providing guidance, strategic insight, and hands-on support every step of the way. Carolyn has remained deeply involved, helping to secure funding, shape the long-term vision, and advocate for professional development in nursing and midwifery. Her partnership with Eva is built on a commitment to elevating the nursing profession in Kurdistan, and, ultimately, beyond.

Michele Calderon, NMDF’s Co-Founder and Board Chair, first entered the story as a PhD student in Public Policy. Wanting to study the NMDC’s work from an academic perspective, she interviewed Carolyn and Eva over the course of 18 months until she decided to travel to Erbil in May 2023 to see Eva in action. Extremely inspired by Eva’s work, Michele decided she wanted to play a bigger role than only academic researcher. She wanted to help. Eva and Carolyn invited her to serve as Board Chair, and together they co-founded the NMDF in the United States. Since then, Michele has poured her heart and energy into supporting Eva and making the NMDC a success.

NMDC received a $1.9 million grant from Latter-day Saint Charities, a generous additional grant from the Stirling Foundation, and property granted by the Erbil Governorate. Construction of the NMDC facility in Erbil began in December 2022. Eva’s husband, Nazim, led the dedicated construction team and worked tirelessly for months until its completion in November 2023.

We are deeply grateful for our partnerships that enabled the construction of our beautiful facility. Sharon Eubank, director of Latter-day Saint Charities, and Jean Bingham, former LDS Relief Society General President and current NMDF Board Member, were instrumental in obtaining the grant from LDS Charities.

In January 2024, the 36,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art NMDC facility opened in Erbil. Nurses, midwives, security professionals, and other healthcare providers now train in its 11 world-class simulation labs, modern classrooms, and a high-tech computer lab. The NMDC is an accredited American Heart Association (AHA) training site and offers multiple AHA courses. Additionally, the facility hosts conferences, language-training courses, and community events. We plan to provide an Emergency Preparedness and Response training field to prepare healthcare providers and community members for disasters.

In its first two years of operation, the NMDC delivered nearly 300 courses and trained over 3400 people, including nurses and midwives who deliver life-saving care to mothers and infants. 

The NMDC stands as a beacon of light, hope, and progress in the region.

You can be part of our shared mission. Please contribute to the NMDF as we support the NMDC operations.