Leading global reproductive and sexual
health partnership, Marie Stopes International (MSI), is opening the doors
of the first dedicated safe motherhood and reproductive health clinic in
the Afghanistan capital, Kabul, on 10th August, 2002.
Afghanistan's need for clinics of this
type could not be more desperate. The country has the second highest number
of maternal deaths in the world, with 1,700 deaths per 100,000 live births,
resulting in 16,000 women dying annually from pregnancy-related causes.
Such a high maternal mortality rate is completely inconsistent with neighbouring
nations: in Pakistan, the number of maternal deaths is 340; Iran - 120;
India - 570 per 100,000 live births. In the UK, the figure is nine deaths
per 100,000 live births (Population Action International 2001).
"Reproductive health and mother and child health in Afghanistan is in an appalling state," said Peter Lawton, MSI Regional Advisor. "The severely limited and fragmented nature of public and private service provision means there is a desperate need for high quality services, which is why MSI's clinic programme will perform such a vital service."
The clinic, located in the busy Kart-i-Parwan district, will serve an immediate population of around one million. Services include preventive maternal health care, reproductive health and child spacing and child health care. Counselling and outreach education will also be an important component of the programme.
"Building up the capacity of the sector is paramount," said Mr Lawton. "The MSI clinic programme will provide training/technical assistance to other reproductive health care providers in Kabul, including government and NGO workers."
MSI has established an entirely Afghan management and clinic team in Kabul which will provide long term sustainable services, receiving outside support from the global MSI Partnership as necessary. The team will also be working closely with the Afghan Ministry of Public Health.
MSI will also be opening mini-clinics in association with UN Habitat in each of their sponsored women's community centres the 15 districts of Kabul. The mini-clinics will provide counselling, education and mother and child health services, and will refer women to MSI's main clinic in Kabul for specialised services and treatment.