Kapisa, Afghanistan — In the rugged, remote mountains of Kapisa province, where transport is a challenge and health facilities are remote, 32-year-old Huma faced the arrival of her fifth child with familiar anxiety.
Living in the Satarag area of Alasai district, her family was poor, making transportation and health care costs a formidable barrier. The thought of the long, unpaved journey to a faraway clinic, especially at night, filled her with dread.
But Huma was determined. She had been proactive throughout this pregnancy, following the instructions of the staff of the UNFPA-supported Mobile Health Team (MHT) in Satarag. She had managed to attend three prenatal care visits, accompanied by family members, who, despite the challenges, ensured she reached the clinic.
The critical moment came around 3 a.m. The labour had begun. Despite the rough terrain and darkness, Huma’s family managed to gather a small sum for a rental vehicle—a vital first step toward life-saving care.
Arriving at the MHT clinic, Huma was swiftly attended to. The clinical team immediately recognized she was ready to deliver. Preparations were made, and the team diligently managed the active phase of labour, using a partograph and administering necessary intravenous fluid and oxytocin.
Four hours of dedicated care later, around 7 a.m., the quiet of the morning was broken by a faint cry, immediately alerting the midwife to a critical problem: the baby was struggling to breathe. The infant's lungs were likely not clearing properly, a life-threatening situation requiring immediate action.
Without hesitation, the midwife initiated immediate neonatal resuscitation. Every second counted. Her movements were swift, precise, and focused as she worked to stimulate the baby, clear the tiny airways, and encourage full, deep breaths. The room held its breath, focused entirely on the delicate, life-saving manoeuvres being performed.
The newborn resuscitation was successful, and both mother and child were carefully monitored for the next four hours. The baby, weighing 3.7 kgs at birth, received his first vaccine, and Huma was given information on essential mother and child care, including feeding and vaccination schedules.
Huma and her newborn received a Mama & Baby Kit upon their discharge. The kit, provided through the support of the Government of China, is a critical component of the care Huma received, providing essential hygiene supplies such as clothing, diapers, towels, and soap, among others, for her and her baby.
For Huma, receiving the kit is a blessing, as she would not have been able to afford the cost if she had to buy the supplies. It also ensured she had immediate access to the necessities for herself and her newborn without incurring additional, unaffordable expenses.
In the end, the provision of the kit, alongside accessible, quality healthcare from the MHT, saved Huma from the long, risky journey and the unaffordable costs she had previously feared.
"The services helped us deliver a healthy baby and saved both our lives," Huma said, with the agreement of her family.
Now, empowered with knowledge and having experienced quality care close to home, Huma is not only caring for her new baby but also sharing crucial health information with other families in her remote community.
