Access to Primary Healthcare in Kabul, Afghanistan

Qasaba ditrict in North Kabul is a place where many poor families live. Lack of maternal health services in this area has been causing the births to take place at home, without a trained health personnel. Upon request of the community, AfD established a maternity ward at the health facility which will provide maternal and new born services to mothers.

Two new midwives were recruited recently and the construciton of the ward, separation of rooms, installment of proper delivery room was accomplished by end of June. The two midwives actively engaged in receiving PNC and ANC patients along with the gynocologist at the health facility in July. The meeting and visits for women in their third trimester of pregnancy has been promising. The ward includes prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care. The activation marks a significant step towards improving maternal and child health outcomes in the north area of Kabul, giving possibilities for patients from Parwan province also benefit from the services.

To ensure continuous and high-quality care, AfD has recruited two qualified midwives through a transparent recruitment process (selection of CVs, written test, interview, check of background). Out of 5 identified candidates, two were selected who will provide services 24/7. These midwives are responsible for:

• Conducting prenatal check-ups
• Assisting with labor and delivery
• Providing postnatal care and support
• Educating mothers on newborn care and breastfeeding

Achieving the goal of providing life-saving health services particlurly to mothers during this time, as women face many backsets is considered critical. Restrictions on women's movement, employment and education has pledged the population into a severe vulnerability condition where many of them not only dont have money to buy food but also cannot afford very basic health related expenses. 

It has been repeatedly reported that many pregnant women ask for half proportion of medicine and essential vitamins that they need to take during the 1st trimester (particlulaly folic acid, various vitamins, and medicine to treat anemia) as they cannot afford to pay for them. In the absence of health insurance systems many families fall bellow poverty line when someone from the familiy faces a health problem requireing an immense treatment or recovery scheme. 

AfD remains commited to the provision of health care services to those people in need and with the generaous donations of our donors who are willing to cover proportion of the medical expenses of these families,  we ensure that those medical services remain at reasonable and affordable cost to the poorest populations.