This summer, help give the gift of healthcare to women and children in Afghanistan
- TKHF
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Did you know that more babies are born in August in the United States than in any other month of the year? Nearly 11,000 beautiful newborns each day of the month – 98 percent** of them arriving in clean, well-supplied hospitals.
For mothers in Afghanistan, childbirth is often much more treacherous. Accessing healthcare facilities is frequently a daunting process for families in remote villages. “People living in these areas often struggle to pay for transportation to reach health facilities located many hours away from their homes. Or they are simply not able to reach health services in time,” shares Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Project Coordinator, Shabana*.
Mahta* travelled three hours on a donkey through valleys and mountain passes to reach the MSF-operated Baghak Clinic in Bamyan Province. While Mahta arrived just in the nick of time, Razia*, another mother, wasn’t as lucky. She gave birth to her second child in a car while driving, trying to reach the Bamyan Province Hospital where MSF provides support. Her third child, born at home, had trouble breathing and experienced seizures shortly after birth. Due to their traumatic births, both of Razia’s children suffer from health issues that could likely have been prevented had she been able to deliver in an accessible health care facility.
Luckily, thanks to MSF hospitals and clinics, as well as their midwife training programs, outcomes for pregnant women treated under their care are better for both mother and child.
Fatima*, a midwife in an MSF-supported health facility, received extensive training at Khost Maternity Hospital, a facility offering emergency care for pregnant women as well as neonatal care and advanced medical interventions for women with high-risk pregnancies and obstetric complications.
With the training Fatima received, she was able to successfully treat two pregnant women for pre-eclampsia. This dangerous pregnancy-related condition can have serious complications for both mother and baby. Both mothers fully recovered and returned home without further treatment.
When I think of mothers like Mahta and Razia, and the many caregivers like Fatima working with MSF, I feel moved to do all I can to ensure that this August, outcomes for women in Afghanistan are improved.
I’d like to ask that you join me in raising money for MSF midwife and maternity care at Khost Maternity Centre.
While the world is in turmoil and there are no shortages of tragedies, we cannot forget about the dire needs of Afghan women and children. Every dollar you donate through my foundation will go directly to MSF.
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Thank you for taking the time to consider supporting The Khaled Hosseini Foundation.
Khaled Hosseini
P.S. For your convenience, you can give online at www.khaledhosseinifoundation.org or send a check to The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, 5655 Silver Creek Valley Road, #203, San Jose, CA 95138. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. One hundred percent (100%) of your donation will go directly to MSF, providing healthcare to women and children in Afghanistan.
*Names changed for privacy and protection of the individual.
Copyright: The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, www.khaledhosseinifoundation.org, info@khaledhosseinifoundation.org
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