In the sterile, high-pressure corridors of Dhaka Medical College, Dr Arifa Sharmin Maya is a name of hope for mothers in crisis. Even with late-night emergencies and the guilt of being a busy mom, she keeps moving forward to save the mothers in high risk.

The Daily Star (TDS): What initially drew you to the field of OBGYN, and how has your professional mission evolved since experiencing motherhood yourself?

Dr Arifa Sharmin Maya (ASM): It wasn’t family pressure that made me a doctor; it was my own desire to serve the country. From a young age, I was involved in cultural and medical clubs, and my teachers always wanted to see me as a doctor. My mission evolved significantly after I became a mother and personally survived a life-threatening heart failure following my daughter’s birth. Now, my goal is to save other mothers from complications like pre-eclampsia.

TDS: How has being a mother changed the way you communicate with your patients,?

ASM: Being a mother allows me to connect with my patients on a deeper level. I often tell them, ‘I am a mother too, and you are a mother.’ I don’t see them just as cases; I feel their struggles as if they were my own. I stay in constant touch with my high-risk patients.

TDS: As a woman leader in women’s health, how are you working to improve maternal healthcare standards or innovate within your department?

ASM: I am constantly advocating for better logistics and manpower. In our department, we receive the most complicated cases in the country, yet we often lack enough Operation Theatres and specialised feto-maternal ICU beds. My goal is to help our nation reach the SDG target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 per 100,000 by 2030.”

TDS: How do you handle the “mom guilt” when a 2:00 AM medical emergency takes you away from your family, and what have you taught your children about the importance of your work?

ASM: I have dealt with a lot of ‘mom guilt.’ Once, when my son was older, he told me I didn’t understand his struggles because I wasn’t there during his school years, which hurt deeply. However, I’ve taught my children that my work is a duty to other mothers. I am grateful that they have been supportive and haven’t become aggressive about my absence.

Interview conducted by Adrin Sarwar