Uruzgan, Afghanistan — After experiencing 10 pregnancies, many of which resulted in serious complications due to the lack of skilled midwifery care, 38-year-old Zainabo learned the vital role of antenatal care in preventing life-threatening conditions. For most of her life, she had limited access to healthcare. Living in Tarinkot District, her village had no health post, and reaching medical services required long journeys. With a farmer husband and a family income barely covering basic needs, maternal care was often treated as optional, and pregnancies were managed at home with untrained traditional birth attendants.
Eight of Zainabo’s deliveries took place under these conditions, exposing her to heavy bleeding, fever, pain, weakness, and low blood pressure. Two pregnancies ended in miscarriage. She had no guidance, no nearby medicine, and no one to turn to for advice, enduring these risks alone.
Her situation began to change with the establishment of a Family Health House (FHH) in Qala-e-Kala, a 25-minute walk from her home. Supported by UNFPA and funded by the European Union, the facility provided professional healthcare access for the first time during her ninth pregnancy. Despite the distance, Zainabo safely delivered her ninth child without complications.
During her tenth pregnancy, she experienced severe bleeding, abdominal pain, fever, and weakness. Although she knew where to seek care, she arrived at the FHH too late to prevent a miscarriage. The attending midwife acted swiftly to treat her, preventing further complications and ensuring her safety. The midwife also educated Zainabo about the importance of allowing her body to recover fully before future pregnancies and taught her to recognize warning signs that require immediate medical attention.
Having recovered, Zainabo now regularly visits the FHH and applies the guidance she has learned on nutrition, hygiene, and timely medical care. For her and many women in her village, the FHH has made maternal healthcare more accessible, reduced fear, and replaced years of uncertainty with reassurance, highlighting the critical importance of skilled antenatal care for safe pregnancies.
