Why I’m supporting Maternal Health Clinics in Afghanistan?

I just got some more info & numbers about the cause we’ll be supporting as part of our Kilimanjaro Charity Climb from Muslim Hands.

It looks sombre and makes me realize the importance this climb has in significantly raising funds for this cause and helping so many of our sisters in Afghanistan inshaAllah…

Check out the details below & click here to help me raise £5,000 for the cause as part of my climb: http://justgiving.com/productivemuslim

Project Title: Maternal Health Clinic in Afghanistan

Location: Puleh Charkhi District Kabul Province

Objectives: To provide the people of Puleh Charkhi District Kabul Province with the necessities of a basic maternal health clinic. Focusing on Postnatal, Antenatal and Prenatal care.

Beneficiaries:

Number of households: 20,000 twenty thousand
Number of Pregnant Women (estimated): 2000 patients/monthly
Estimated Number of New Born: 1800/year

Project Duration
Start Date 15/03/2011
End Date 15/12/2012

Needs:

Over 30 years of civil war have led to a massive displacement of people into neighbouring countries and internally, destruction of infrastructure, loss of human capital, assets and resources, and the disruption of the local economy. ten years on since the end of the civil war, the economic and social conditions remain difficult particularly in rural areas, where the majority of inhabitants are engaged in subsistence or near-subsistence farming and in raising of livestock. As a result of last three decades of war people of Afghanistan have different Health Problems especially for women in the case of maternal and new born.

The most common measure for death in childbirth is the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). It refers to the number of maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. TheMMR in Afghanistan is a staggering 1,600 per 100,000 live births. The primary complications of childbirth are bleeding, infection, hypertension, and obstructed labor. “The situation is so dire that a woman in Afghanistan dies from pregnancy-related complications every 27 seconds,” according to a 2008 report by the Central Asia Health Institute. Most of these deaths could be prevented with increased access to maternal health services.

Data Afghanistan:
151.1 death per 1000 child births (2nd worst in the world)
155 male deaths in 1000 child births
147 female deaths in 1000 child births
5.5 children per women
Every 30 minute a pregnant women will die
1900 women per 100,000 will die in child birth

Actual services that Muslim Hands will provide to poor community in Muslim Hands Maternal Clinic:
1. Needs assessment

a. Household Survey

2. Clinic

a. Medication/vitamins
b. Doctors 
c. Midwife
d. Dispenser 
e. Nurse/Assistant
f. Social Mobilizers
g. Lab Assistant
h. Attendant
i. Ultrasound Doctor

Muslim Hands Clinic will provide following services;

Activities:

1. Prenatal

a. Check up
b. Advice
c. Vitamins
d. Weighing

2. Antenatal

a. Child delivery
b. Clean Delivery Kit
c. Check up – Mother and Child
d. Baby pack

i. Baby clothes
ii. Blanket
iii. Nappies

3. Prenatal

a. Check up
b. Advice
c. Support
d. Stipend (only if the child was delivered by MH and the prenatal check was held)
e. Vitamins

4. Training

a. Training of Midwives / Non-Formal Birth Attendants
b. Monthly and Weekly Classes,

Click here to help me raise £5,000 for the cause above: http://justgiving.com/productivemuslim