Do you remember their first word? The first time they took a step and you cheered with claps and smiles? The moment you held your child and you beamed with joy? For a brief moment, nothing matters but the little one you are holding in your arms. Those are the moments Anisa and Temor will get to experience with their child Mohammad. Anisa and Temor have been married for 18 years and had 12 unsuccessful pregnancies before Mohammad arrived in their world.
Mohammad’s parents brought him to Afshar Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan to be treated for pneumonia, sepsis, and cranial hemorrhaging. Doctors were able to treat Mohammad with transfusions, the proper medication, and around-the-clock care by Afshar’s doctors and nurses. Mohammad’s story is just one example of why prenatal and postnatal care is critical for the well-being of any expectant mother and her child.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 289,000 women die each year from complications related to childbirth, pregnancy or during the postnatal period. Poor maternal and neonatal care results in 2.9 million neonatal deaths per year. Of all these maternal and neonatal-related deaths that occur, 99 percent happen in low and middle-income countries. Access to proper healthcare and education is important for mothers such as Anisa.
The survival and well-being of a newborn’s health physically and psychologically depend on their mother’s health throughout pregnancy. A successful pregnancy requires a healthy pregnancy, one in which the mother understands and enjoys a nutritious diet and is educated about what is necessary to ensure a good birth and the future health of her child. The postnatal time frame is up to six weeks after the child’s birth. The first few hours and days after a mother has delivered her child is important because they can save a mother’s life from complications such as bleeding or infection. It can also save a newborn’s life. Access to proper postnatal care can be the difference between life and death for women and their children and can make all the difference.
At Alliance for Medical Outreach and Relief’s (AMOR) Afshar Hospital in Afghanistan, women are provided proper pre-and postnatal care to guarantee a successful pregnancy and birth. As of November 2015, there were 1,570 babies successfully delivered at Afshar. In Afghanistan where the maternal mortality rate is 66 per 1000 births, educating mothers during pre- and postnatal care is essential. Afshar Hospital’s health care providers make certain that women enjoy a clean and safe environment, as well as nutrient packs supplemented with essential vitamins. Women receive education through AMOR’s hospitals, clinics, and health lessons, to guarantee every question is answered, every need is met and every concern is taken care of.
After 17 days at Afshar Hospital, Anisa and Temor were able to take Mohammad home. Because of the critical postnatal care and the help from doctors and nurses at Afshar Hospital, Anisa and Temor will be able to share many more moments with Mohammad.
To learn more about the work AMOR is doing and the life-changing impact Afshar Hospital is having on mothers and their newborns, visit AMORelief.org
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-AMOR Staff