Support Life-Saving efforts for Mothers & Newborns

Dear Friends, 

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies, characterized by on-going and widespread conflict and displacement, as well as natural disasters. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. While life for many Afghan people improved in the last 20 years, including considerable progress made in the health of its population[1] Afghanistan remains off course in meeting it’s global health targets (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)).

Key Sustainable Development Goal Indicators

Today, life expectancy at birth is 65.3 (years);

Maternal Mortality Ratio (# maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) is 638

Under-5 Mortality Rate (# per 1,000 live births) 58

Neonatal mortality rate (# per 1,000 live births) 35

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index (scale 0 to 100 based on the average coverage of essential services and service capacity and access) 37

Primary healthcare facilities # per 10,000 population is 1.2

Per capita current health expenditure (CHE)  $50

(Sources: Monitoring health and health system performance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO 2021; * UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates Expanded Database May 2022)

Since August 2021 the changes that happened in the country, twisted the development initiatives which were on the horizon and caused the loss of the gains of the last 20 years. Consequently, many Afghans fled overseas in fear of theirs lives and livelihoods. $10 billion of Afghanistan’s assets were frozen and international financial support was withdrawn. Afghanistan’s economy collapsed, interrupting essential services, including primary health care. Consequences included a devastating impact on quality of care and availability of services: closure of health clinics, shortage of medicine and supplies and unpaid staff. High food prices and a prolonged drought has resulted in an increase in food insecurity and malnutrition and outbreaks of life-threatening diseases (polio, measles, malaria, dengue, cholera and COVID-19) continue. All severely weakening an already fragile health system.

The health facility continues to provide the services with a primary focus on women and children. Unfortunately it is a challenge to continue providing services when we miss out on essential equipment. It has been three months since we first posted this project on the platform. Our staff from Kabul continuously ask if we were able to raise some funds in order to replace the current worn-out machines and unfortunately our answer is negative. 

The female doctor who conducts the ultrasound examines has personally requested me to transmit her words in this report. She said: "During these difficult days we continue working, providing services to the women and children, who come to the health facility with a lot of hope to receive a service and to get healthy. They cannot afford to go to a private health facility because the economic situation of people gets worse day by day. They don’t know whether to spent on food, on health or on other essential expenditures, I am afraid that during diagnosis I might make a mistake, that could somehow have a negative effect on the patient. We very much need the support to replace the old machine, and we are looking forward to you supporting us. The world has forgotten Afghanistan, but we still hope that there are many people who believe in humanity and who can help us go through these dark days. 

We would like to thank those who contributed to the cause and would be still looking forward to your further contributions. 

Links:

• Project details