UAE-Funded Maternity Clinics Enhance Maternal Health For Afghan Families

In Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Shazia Mohammadi recently welcomed her seventh child, Fatima, at a newly established maternity clinic. This marked the first time Shazia experienced childbirth with professional medical support. The clinic is one of ten funded by the UAE across Afghanistan, aiming to improve maternal health in rural regions. "Our economic condition was pretty bad all through. Now, thanks to the help we have received, we are much better off. We thank the UAE for this transformation in our lives," Shazia said.

Her husband, Ramadan Mohammadi, shared their past struggles with accessing healthcare. "Six of our children were born at home because we couldn’t afford transportation to distant hospitals. This is the first time a clinic has been built near our house, and it has been a blessing for us." These clinics have brought essential medical services to communities that previously lacked basic healthcare access.

The UAE-funded clinics are situated in seven provinces: Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, Paktia, Paktika, Helmand, and Kandahar. They provide maternity and paediatric care, counselling services, contraceptives, emergency care, medicines and referrals for high-risk cases. Additionally, they serve as community outreach hubs offering health education and awareness programmes.

Dr. Ikramullah from one of these clinics highlighted the significant changes occurring. "Previously, childbirth happened at home without any medical support in unsafe conditions. It is changing now, and the people here are so delighted. We not only ensure safe deliveries but also provide vaccinations, nutritional assistance and continuous medical care for mothers and newborns."

Ayesha Qamari's case exemplifies the progress being made through these centres. "The impact of these maternity centres is already being felt. This baby is just one of hundreds of children receiving crucial health checks and vaccinations," Dr. Ikramullah noted. Such efforts aim to reduce Afghanistan's high infant mortality rate where over 57 out of 1,000 children die before age five according to UNICEF.

Ayesha’s mother expressed gratitude for the nearby clinic: "We have come to the clinic three or four times. Earlier we could not afford transport costs to city hospitals; many sick children would not survive long journeys." The proximity of these clinics has been life-saving for many families.

Economic Revitalisation Through Healthcare

Beyond healthcare improvements, this initiative is boosting local economies by creating small businesses around clinics offering transportation and food services. Over 100 Afghans have found employment in various roles including medical support and administration.

Mawlawi Ameenullah Sharif from Nagarhar Province acknowledged this broader impact: "We thank the UAE for their investment in Afghanistan’s healthcare. This clinic was urgently needed; now poor people have access to essential services like vaccinations maternal care nutrition support."

State-of-the-Art Facilities

The clinics feature advanced medical equipment powered by solar energy along with mobile units ambulances staffed by dedicated professionals reflecting UAE's commitment towards improving quality life empowering women children strengthening communities Afghanistan.

These facilities are expected positively affect more than 100 thousand women coming years representing significant step towards accessible healthcare underserved areas country.

With inputs from WAM