Helmand, Afghanistan – Haji Zaman Shah could not contain his excitement as he watched the Family Health House (FHH) being built on a family property that he donated finally coming to its completion.

Zaman Shah admits there were times he wanted to regret the decision to donate his land for the FHH as his family felt the brunt of poverty being experienced across Afghanistan. 

Zaman Shah and his sons used to farm on the land. Last year, when he learned from community elders that they were looking for land for the FHH that UNFPA was establishing, he did not have second thoughts about offering his property.

Zaman Shah’s family could have earned an income cultivating the land for agriculture. The family also planned to build a house for their newly married son on a part of that land. However, the family respected Zaman Shah’s selflessness and supported him.

“I had to find a house and a field for my son to farm to support the family he was starting. It was a difficult time. I ended up selling three cows to honour my promise to my son,” Zaman Shah reveals.

The more his family felt the poverty crunch, the more people in Zaman Shah’s community tried to make him regret donating his land for the FHH. “Some people advised me to take back my land. There were times I thought about their words, and it made me think they were probably right,” he admits.

When the construction of the FHH began, the farmer knew he made the right decision. 

“I don’t have words to explain how proud I was when the construction started. their work. On the first day, I could not eat out of excitement. I watched the workers and brought them food and water,” he recalls. Zaman Shah has been helping with the construction ever since.

The establishment of the FHH is supported by the Government of Japan, which has been a partner to UNFPA in promoting maternal health in Afghanistan. While the construction is ongoing, a temporary clinic has been set up and midwives have been trained to provide reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health care for the people of Nasaran and nearby villages. In June 2023 alone, the clinic served more than 1,300 villagers, including eight mothers who delivered safely.

Seeing the FHH construction almost finished, Zaman Shah is even more proud of his invaluable contribution to his community. “Now, my neighbours and family join my vision for this health facility,” he happily shares. “There are events in life that require you to suffer first before you enjoy their fruits. I believe that the completion of this FHH is one of them.”

Text by Ehsanullah Popal