Save Afghan Women & Children with Health Care

Dear Friends,

We are delighted to let you know that an AIL project has been selected as one of only six projects in the GlobalGiving Girl Fund! The project is 921 Afghan Institute of Learning Empowers Afghan Women. This project will receive one sixth of the donations made during the rest of this year to this special Fund! We would not have been selected for this opportunity without the support we received in the month of March from many donors such as yourselves. Great team effort! Thank you!

Project Update

AIL has always approached helping poor Afghan women and children with a multi- pronged approach combining health care and education with education and skills training. AIL’s health program is a strong and sustaining element of this philosophy. Women cannot be empowered if they are unwell and lack the necessary knowledge to be healthy and keep their families healthy.  AIL has 4 fixed clinics and outreach units at one Learning Center and an orphanage. So far in 2017, AIL has treated 51,446 (70% women and children) and given health education to 38,404.

Here is a story from the orphanage:  Hamida had this to say, “When I was playing in the nursery playground I slipped and fell from the top of the walkway.My right foot hurt a lot as it hit an iron rod. I felt that my foot bone was broken.  My friends took me to the health department of the nursery immediately.  Fortunately, the doctor was there.I was crying from the bad pain. He immediately injected me with a painkiller to help calm me. After the examination, the doctor told me fortunately, my foot was not broken. However, it was injured badly. “I will prescribe you some medicine and analgesic ointment to apply it once at night in order to get well soon. You must rest and do not stand on your feet for at least ten days.” 

I really do not know how to express my feelings toward Professor Sakena Yacoobi  who made these facilities for the orphans.  I really had no idea what to do with an injured and painful foot if there were not a health department in the nursery. I do not have anyone who could help me. Thank You! “

Health education is given whenever and wherever possible such as at clinics, at Community Health Worker (CHWs) visits, at schools and Learning Centers. Health messages are part of everyday and every class at the centers. For example, students studying mobile literacy send text messages about health to their class mates.

AIL oversees 15 CHW posts which are manned by two person teams. Their job is to give basic care and advice and health education as well as referred people to clinics. They tend pregnant women in their villages giving the necessary information about pregnancy and safe delivery. In 2017, CHWs have already visited 10,099 families expanding the reach of AIL’s health program and empowering women to take care of their health.

Thank you for your support for women in Afghanistan.