Afghanistan maternal health crisis: How CARE clinics save young mothers in remote villages

When Sita first became pregnant, she felt both joy and fear. Like many in her community, she had little knowledge about pregnancy or how to care for herself.

As soon as she learned she was pregnant, she visited the clinic. “The midwife welcomed me, provided a mother’s health booklet, and placed me under regular antenatal care, asking me to visit the clinic each month,” Sita recalls.

Maryam, a trained midwife, found that Sita was undernourished at her visits. This is a common risk for young mothers with limited access to information and nutrition.

“The midwife enrolled me in the nutrition program where I received monthly food packages and iron tablets,” Sita says.

Four months into her pregnancy, Sita experienced a miscarriage. In the aftermath, she received medication and counseling at the clinic, where Maryam advised her to recover for at least six months before trying to conceive again.

Second pregnancy success: Midwife’s vigilance saves mother and baby

When Sita became pregnant again, Maryam took extra precautions, monitoring her closely with blood tests and reenrolling her in the nutrition program.

Sita kept up her regular antenatal checkups. Twenty-eight weeks into her pregnancy, she woke one morning in severe pain. A midwife examined her and realized she had already gone into labor. There was no time to rush her to a hospital.

Her baby arrived weak and was struggling to breathe from low oxygen. The midwife stayed by their side, keeping the infant warm, starting skin-to-skin contact, and guiding Sita to breastfeed.

“Once mother and newborn stabilized, I discharged them with advice to keep the baby warm and breastfeed often,” Maryam says.

One week later, Sita returned for follow-up care. The clinic enrolled her baby in an infant feeding support program and nutrition counseling. Ever since, Sita visits monthly to track her daughter’s weight.

Today, Sita’s six-month-old daughter, Forozan, is thriving.

Beyond Sita: Clinics saving lives in remote Afghan villages

Sita’s story is far from unique. In Afghanistan, young women across remote districts face deadly pregnancy risks, especially where skilled care is scarce. Maternal deaths still rank among the country’s top killers for women.

In Pashtun, a remote village in Zarghoon district, young Leilma* rushed to a CARE clinic in active labor. Married young and terrified of childbirth — despite attending antenatal visits — she struggled to breathe as the pain of contractions hit her.

Leilma managed to give birth, but her baby wasn’t breathing.

Midwife Amina sprang into action, warming and rubbing the newborn before delivering assisted breaths. After heart-pounding minutes, the baby finally let out a wail. But then Leilma’s blood pressure suddenly plummeted, sending her into shock.

“For a moment, I thought I’d die,” Leilma recalls. But the midwife was able to stabilize her through the quick application of fluids, medication, and oxygen.

“She brought us back to life,” Leilma says.

Sustaining clinics: Lifelines for young mothers in remote Afghanistan

For women like Sita and Leilma, a nearby clinic with trained staff can prevent maternal mortality. These facilities often provide the only available skilled care for pregnancy complications.

For Sita, access to the clinic and midwives was lifechanging.

“One day, Maryam showed me a photo of Forozan right after birth,” Sita recalls. “I was shocked to see how tiny and weak she had been. Now I smile with gratitude because she’s healthy and growing strong.”

“I am deeply grateful that such a clinic exists in our village,” she adds. “It has been a lifesaver for women like me.”

Without clinics like these, women in villages like Sita’s would have no access to skilled maternal care at all.

“As needs grow and funding tightens, these clinics remain critical,” says Kristina Jovanovska, CARE Afghanistan deputy country director. “These health facilities often provide the only skilled care for pregnancy complications. Continued investment in primary health care ensures women in remote areas aren’t left alone in their most critical moments.”

CARE began working in Afghanistan in 1961. Today, CARE Afghanistan focuses on three core areas: women’s and girls’ empowerment, enhanced resilience, and humanitarian action. In 2025, CARE programs reached 1.2 million people, 67% of whom were women and girls.

* Names changed