Uruzgan, Afghanistan – Access to healthcare remains a challenge for many Afghans, worse still for those in the remote areas of this province. UNFPA supports midwives in these isolated areas in Afghanistan to make births safer for women and their newborns. 

Bibi Gula, 29, is one of the many mothers benefiting from the services provided by the Family Health House (FHH) in Oshi Village, Shahid Hassas District.

"I gave birth to all my five children at home," Bibi Gula shares. "In all deliveries, it was an untrained traditional birth attendant who assisted me.” Those childbirths had complications, including obstetric fistula. 

“I had a high fever, anaemia, and a fistula. It made me very weak, and I suffered a lot,” she narrated. During her sixth pregnancy, Bibi Gula's health was in a fragile state. "I was so weak and pale, and my blood pressure was low.”

This time, she knew better than to go to a traditional birth attendant. Fortunately, a Family Health House (FHH) is now accessible in her village, thanks to the European Union's humanitarian assistance.  Midwife Noorina, recognized Bibi Gula’s condition and provided her with multivitamins, iron supplements, folic acid, and other medication to address the symptoms. 

These treatments improved Bibi Gula’s condition, stabilizing her blood pressure and reducing her pain. Throughout the pregnancy, she completed four antenatal visits to the midwife.

When it was time to give birth, Bibi Gula delivered her baby safely at the FHH under the care of trained healthcare providers. "The midwife advised me to breastfeed the baby within the first hour and made sure I had immediate contact with my child," she recalls.

"I am so grateful for the care I received," Bibi Gula reflected on her experience. "I wish this health facility received more medicine and treated all other illnesses. It is the only facility closest to our homes,” she added.

With the support of dedicated healthcare professionals at the FHH, Bibi Gula was able to overcome health challenges and deliver a healthy baby. In 2024, with the EU’s support, the FHH served 16,263 people from Oshi Village and nearby communities with reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services. 

UNFPA's work in providing accessible healthcare and skilled midwives is crucial in saving lives and improving the health of mothers and their babies. Thanks to the commitment and care provided by midwives like Noori, women like Bibi Gula can now look forward to better healthcare.