Terre des hommes expands its operational capacity in Kabul
The Foundation Terre des hommes has increased its operational capacity in Kabul by better responding to the needs of pregnant mothers and new-born babies. In October 2001, 31 female professionals midwives managed to care for more than 10.000 needy mothers through a community-focused home-visiting program in 12 areas of Kabul city.

Terre des hommes (Tdh) has been operating a Mother and Child Health - Home Visiting Program (MCH-HVP) in Kabul City since January 1996, to improve the provision of health care during the crucial antenatal and postnatal periods of approximately 85.000 women every year.

Despite deteriorating security situation and military attacks on Kabul the Tdh midwives visited in the month of October exactly 1.000 new houses in search for pregnant women in need. They found 469 women in need and visited additionally 2.123 mothers already in the program.

The midwives offered health education sessions in the neighborhoods for 7.270 women and older girls focusing on safe motherhood.

Within the program 353 new-born babies received assistance and treatment when required.

199 malnourished mothers and one motherless baby have been identified and included in Tdh’ nutrition program, sponsored by Canada Fund.

Due to the worsening situation in Kabul, leading to massive population movements, the midwife teams had to increase their numbers of surveys. Moreover the Tdh midwives reported in October the highest number of complications during pregnancy (abnormal bleeding etc) since the implementation of the program in 1996.

On 5^th of November Tdh sent a shipment of 20 cubic meter of MCH related medicines to Kabul, not only for the home-visiting program but also for other maternal health facilities.

Tdh also assisted the De-mining Agency MDC with transportation of several cubic meters of first-aid kits to Kabul the same day.

On 9^th of November Tdh doctors transported rabies vaccines in a cold chain to Kabul for the vaccine department of the only one children hospital in Kabul.

With the present deterioration in the access to medical facilities in Kabul, the support and contact with pregnant women, or mothers and their newly born babies, through a home visiting program is a most important life-saving program – especially in times of war, conflicts and deteriorating security and health situations.

The Terre des hommes liaison delegation office in Peshawar
Phone: 0092 91 43814

E-mail: tdhkabul@brain.net.pk

Website: www.tdhafghanistan.org

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

|