Help Afghan Women Deliver Healthy Babies Safely

The Afghan Institute of Learning operates three health clinics in rural Herat.  Between January and November of this year, 17490 reproductive health patients were seen at these clinics.

The Afghan people of the past had a general distrust of the medical profession.  As the people are becoming better educated, and access to doctors and clinics is increasing, their overall health is improving, and specifically, as women continue to seek health care, the maternal and child death rates are declining.

Thank you to everyone to helped to support this program.

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!