Save Rural Afghan Women & Children With Healthcare

In addition to the rural clinics operated by the Afghan Institute of Learning, there are CHW’s (Community Health Workers) working in the rural villages of Herat and Kabul.  More than 65,000 families were visited by these CHW’s between January and November of this year.  The CHWs are able to offer health education, first aid, and assist in prenatal and postnatal care and deliveries.  They can also offer health assessments and refer patients to clinics when the illness or wound is more than they can take care of.

All of the health aspects of AIL’s programs have steadily increased over the years.  More and more patients are being seen and treated and AIL intends to continue and expand its services.

Thank you to all of you who supported these efforts.

From January through August of this year, the Afghan Institute of Learning has held 10 separate, five day Seminars on Reproductive Health.  The total number of women who have attended these seminars is 333.  The participants vary.  Some are housewives, students, teachers, and government workers.  Many of the participants are illiterate and the program is adapted to be very easy to understand using pictures, oral instruction and by having the attendees actively participate with question and answer and hands-on activities.

The women are informed of all aspects of pregnancy, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, child spacing and how to keep themselves healthy before, during and after a pregnancy.  Parisa, one of the participants said, “This workshop can prevent the mortality of women and their children.  Women receive enough information about all of the issues of delivery and reproductive health and we can carry this information to others, especially our families.  Now I can provide reasons to others why it is better to deliver in a clinic or hospital instead of at home.” 

Another AIL Project, “Transform Lives of 70,000 Afghan Adolescent Girls” has been chosen to be part of the Girl Effect Challenge, which runs from October 15 through November 15, 2011.  Approximately 60 projects have been included in this challenge.  The top six projects with the highest number of unique donations will become part of the Girl Effect Fund for one year and each is expected to earn an additional $25,000.  Please check out our project #8791, and thank you for your generous support of our programs!

A recent report by “Save the Children” listed Afghanistan as the worst place to be a woman.  One reason for this was the very high mortality rate.  According to that report, the lifetime risk of maternal death is 1 in 11, and the life expectancy of a female in Afghanistan is 45.

 AIL continues to reach more people, especially women, through their health education programs.  Subjects taught include women’s health, violence against women, reproductive health, first aid, self-immolation, family planning, vaccinations, nutrition and other topics requested by participants.