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Transforming Lives

Speeches Shim

Maternal and Child Health awareness campaigns can widely contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality.

Every year, dozens of mothers and children die from preventable illnesses and health conditions in Afghanistan, a land-locked country with among the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally. Most of these deaths occur because of lack of access to health services and low levels of awareness to key health and hygiene practices in rural communities. Complications and potential deaths may be averted through maternal and child health awareness campaigns.

Tahira (foreground) and other new workers train to use the new spinning wheels.

After founding the Sahib Zaman Carpet Manufacturer Co. in Kabul in 2008, they found their success hampered by the poor availability of wool yarn. Unable to invest in more spinning machines to employ more spinners, the company had no choice but to rely on costly, low-quality wool yarn imported from Pakistan.

Female Runners race to the finish line.

“Running is a great activity, which is why many girls are interested in doing it. Unfortunately, due to socially constructed gender norms imposed on Afghan females, there are not many opportunities to explore different sports,” says Nargis Sharifi, the team facilitator of the Peace Runners.

Soraya is using a USAID-provided knitting machine to make a scarf.

Soraya learned to knit from her mother at age 13. However, marriage kept her too busy to take up her childhood hobby. The death of her husband, however, changed her calculation. Facing the need to support her six children, what once was an enjoyable digression became a marketable skill.

Burhanuddin in his clinic, Langar village, Khuram Wa Sarbagh district, Samangan province.

Controlling highly contagious diseases in livestock is a significant challenge in maintaining a healthy herd and improving the production of animals. In Afghanistan, livestock are a significant part of the economy and livestock owners are often among the poorest people and make up some of the least food secure households in the country.

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