Save Afghan Women & Children with Health Care

Get your Match!

There are still funds available for this project to get matched by the Safer World Fund - 50% for returnee donors, 100% for new donors!!

The recent report from the World Health Organization* shows Afghanistan’s maternal mortality rate (per 100,000 live births) has dropped from 1450 to 638. Great news! But still alarmingly high. The world average is 211.

AIL is contributing to this downward trend by providing health education to all clinic patients, supporting village based Community Health Worker posts and offering health workshops.  Education saves lives, there is no doubt of this. Women want to do the right and safest thing and to look after themselves once they have the necessary knowledge. 

Our Expectant Mother Workshops provide information on healthy pregnancy and safe birth in one afternoon to a pregnant woman and her caregiver. Since 2010 2,331 women (1168 pregnant) have attended AIL's Expectant Mother workshops. The mothers who reported back - 99% chose a safer clinic based birth.

Our Reproductive Health Workshops give comprehensive health information in an interactive 5 day format. Since 2013, AIL provided Reproductive Health Workshops to 2,459 women.

Let’s keep working to save lives and reduce the risk of childbirth for mothers and babies. Thanks for your support for our work providing health education that saves lives.

The year end newsletter for CHI is attached.

• *Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2017  WHO,UNICEF,World Bank Grp,UNPD

• newsletter_2019.final.pdf (PDF)
  

In 2010, AIL started a program called the Expectant Mother Workshop. This has turned out to be a highly effective class providing information in a 3 hour session, on safe pregnancy and childbirth and newborn care. Pregnant women attend with a helper and most go on to choose a safer clinic birth rather than the traditional home birth.

The topics covered include importance of prenatal and postnatal care, vaccinations, healthy pregnancy, problems in pregnancy, nutrition, risks in childbirth, safe birthing sites and practices, newborn needs, hygiene and nutrition. Each pregnant women receives a layette package and the helper a scarf.

Shirin said, "I live with my husband's family and work a lot in my house. I became pregnant but several days before the due date I went to a doctor and they found my baby was dead. I'm so sad it is so hard for a mother to lose her baby. When I got pregnant the next time, I went to Jaghartan clinic for a check-up. When the doctor started scanning, they realized that I had twins and both are boys! I attended the workshop so I know what to expect and what to do.  I am so happy and appreciate AIL."

So far this year, there have been 4 classes for 80 women (40 pregnant women). Since 2010, there have been 112 workshops for 2,331 women (1,168 pregnant).

Thanks for your support for our work providing health education that saves lives.