In August 2021, as the Taliban rapidly took control of Afghanistan, millions of lives were thrown into disarray, particularly those of women and girls. Among those facing unimaginable decisions was Mariza Ahmadi, a dedicated midwife at the Ahangaran Family Health House in the remote Bamyan province. Despite the chaos and danger, Ahmadi made the difficult choice to remain at her post, driven by her commitment to the health and safety of the women in her community.
“If I had left, a mother or a baby could have died,” Ahmadi shared. “I was worried, but I couldn’t leave because people needed our services. I stayed because people, especially pregnant women, needed my support.”
Clinics in Crisis
The Taliban’s takeover had a devastating impact on public health services. Hospitals and clinics across the country were forced to shut down or became non-operational due to safety concerns, leaving many Afghans without access to critical healthcare. Pregnant women, in particular, were left anxious and uncertain about where they could safely deliver their babies.
Despite these challenges, Ahmadi refused to close the Ahangaran Family Health House. “So, I didn’t close the family health house,” she said, aware of the vital role her clinic played in the community.
A Desperate Journey
One of the women who turned to Ahmadi for help was 29-year-old Sughra, who was nine months pregnant. Fearing that the provincial hospital in Bamyan City might close, Sughra decided to leave the city for her father’s village as soon as she felt the first signs of labor.
With her husband and sister-in-law, Sughra endured a grueling three-hour journey in the back of a truck, navigating rough roads to reach the village. “I was afraid I would give birth on the truck,” she recalled.
Sughra’s labor pains intensified, and she was taken to the Ahangaran Family Health House, the only available facility in the area supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
A Safe Delivery
After hours of labor, Sughra safely delivered a healthy baby boy at 2 p.m. on 19 August 2021, which happened to be World Humanitarian Day. “The labor was agonizing, but I was happy that we managed everything from the family health house,” Sughra said. “If the clinic hadn’t existed during those days, who knows what could have happened to me.”
Behind this successful delivery was the unwavering dedication of Mariza Ahmadi. “That was a tough situation, but this clinic did not close for a single day during those times,” Ahmadi said. “I was also scared, but if I left, all our efforts to prevent maternal and newborn deaths would have gone to waste.”
A Lifesaving Service
Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with one woman dying every hour from pregnancy and childbirth complications—deaths that could largely be prevented with skilled midwifery care. The situation has only grown more perilous since the Taliban imposed restrictions on women’s ability to work and travel without a male guardian.
Despite these challenges, Ahmadi continued her work, assisting with three more deliveries that week alone, all involving women displaced from other districts in Bamyan province. Remarkably, there have been no maternal deaths in her clinic during the four years she has worked there.
The Need for More Midwives
The Ahangaran Family Health House, currently funded by the United States and previously by Italy, provides essential healthcare services to isolated communities in Bamyan province. Midwives like Ahmadi can meet about 90% of the need for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health services. However, there is a global shortage of approximately 900,000 trained midwives, and Afghanistan urgently needs an additional 18,000 to meet the demand for skilled birth attendance.
UNFPA has significantly expanded its support across Afghanistan, increasing the number of family health houses from just over 70 in 2021 to 477 today. These clinics have provided over five million Afghans with access to critical health services, particularly in remote areas.
A Future of Hope
Back at home, Sughra’s son, Farhad, recently celebrated his third birthday. Reflecting on her experience, Sughra said, “When he grows up, I hope he can study so he can build a good future for himself and other people around him.”
The bravery and commitment of midwives like Mariza Ahmadi offer a glimmer of hope in a country where the challenges seem insurmountable. Their dedication continues to save lives, one delivery at a time.