Baghlan, Afghanistan – In the remote village of Senjitak, 28-year-old Mahre, a mother of three, faced a life-threatening complication during her last childbirth.

Mahre arrived at the Senjitak Family Health House already in active labour. Midwife Sumaia conducted a comprehensive examination. The labour went without any signs of complication.

During delivery, Mahre experienced shoulder dystocia – a condition where the baby's head is delivered, but the shoulder gets stuck in the mother’s body – posing an immediate threat to the baby’s life. Drawing on her skills and training, Sumaia quickly performed the necessary manoeuvres to safely deliver the baby.

Shortly after the successful delivery, another critical complication emerged: postpartum hemorrhage resulting from retained placental fragments. Recognizing the immediate danger, Sumaia again demonstrated her competence and decisive action. She promptly addressed the situation by manually removing the remaining placental tissue. Then, she administered intravenous fluids to stabilize Mahre’s condition and prescribed a course of antibiotics to prevent potential infection.

Mahre was monitored for six hours and received full postpartum care, including checks for danger signs and counseling on breastfeeding, hygiene, birth spacing and newborn vaccination. The care she received was more than medical—it was compassionate, comprehensive, and lifesaving.

“I will follow all the advice given by the midwife during my pregnancy and care for my children as well,” Mahre shared after her recovery. “If this facility had not been here, my baby and I could have lost our lives.”

Before the Family Health House was established, families in this mountainous area faced high risks during childbirth due to long distances to the nearest clinic, impassable roads during winter, and lack of trained health staff. 

Now, the facility supported by UNFPA and the Republic of Korea serves as a vital source of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services for hundreds of women and children in the area. In the first four months of 2025, the facility catered to the needs of about 1500 people.

“We not only need skilled care but also community support. Oftentime, women reach our facility already in active labour because transportation is an issue. Our communities need to ensure that women are delivered here in time, especially, if they are facing complications,” Sumaia said, underlining the importance of timely maternal care and community involvement.

Family Health Houses, like the one in Senjitak, are a cornerstone of UNFPA’s strategy to ensure no woman dies giving life. With continued support of partners, thousands more women like Mahre will have a safe place to turn to when it matters most.