Care International III
Afghanistan, October 2010
It is nearly ten years since Taliban rule ended in Afghanistan. Under the Taliban, maternal health care was at an all time low. Because women were excluded from education, there were hardly any trained midwives left in the country. CARE Afghanistan has developed a community based maternal and child health project in four districts of Kabul city since 2005. A group of trained healthcare workers brings neighbourhood groups together to discuss health issues, visit households and refer women and children to hospitals if necessary. They also use a unique “Talking Book” that engages women and their children in learning about health issues. The book is colourful and informative and is known in the communities as a “Magic Book” because it talks.
Mahboba Sharieffy, a Community Based Educator (CBE), trained with CARE three years ago. Mahobo demonstrates to women through a flip chart the importance of nutrition and hygiene while pregnant and lactating at a weekly health shura she organises in District 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 10th October, 2010.
A young girl sits with her mother at a weekly health shura that is organised by a community based educator (CBE) that has been trained by Care International in District 8 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 10th October, 2010.- A young woman helps Norsia Najafi, who has been a Community Based Educator (CBE) since 2005, demonstrate the importance of nutrition at a health shura she organises bi monthly in District 7 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 11th October, 2010.
- Women and their children listen to Norsia Najafi, who has been a Community Based Educator (CBE) since 2005, demonstrate the importance of nutrition at a health shura she organises bi monthly in District 7 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 11th October, 2010.
- A young woman listens to Norsia Najafi, who has been a Community Based Educator (CBE) since 2005, demonstrate the importance of nutrition at a health shura she organises bi monthly in District 7 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 11th October, 2010.
- A young woman holds her baby while listening to Norsia Najafi, who has been a Community Based Educator (CBE) since 2005, demonstrate the importance of nutrition at a health shura she organises bi monthly in District 7 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 11th October, 2010.
- An elderly woman holds her grandchild while she queues to see a doctor at a maternal health clinic that is held weekly at the Dashbarchi hospital in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Alia Walezada (L) a CBE (Community Based Educator) talks to Farida, a 32 year old mother of seven children who has been recently displaced from Kandahar, about the importance of contraception at her mother's home where she is now living in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- A woman wearing a burka walks down the street carrying cooking pots in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Farida, the mother in law of Nafisa Jan Mohammed, three months pregnant with her ninth child, and who has recently suffered a stroke that has crippled half her body and made her unable to walk, sits on sits on the floor, in District 5 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 13th October, 2010.
- A son of Samajan, who has four children, poses for a portrait in a broken window at the family's home in District 5 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 13th October, 2010.
- Norsia Najafi, who has been a Community Based Educator (CBE) since 2005, demonstrates to women in a Health Shura (meeting) that she organises twice a month how to use the pill correctly in District 7 in Kabul, Afghanistan on the 11th October, 2010.
- Alia Walezada (C) a CBE (Community Based Educator) talks to Farida, a 32 year old mother of seven children who has been recently displaced from Kandahar, about the importance of contraception at her mothers home where she is now living in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Alia Walezada (C) a CBE (Community Based Educator) gets Farida a 32 year old mother of seven children, who has been recently displaced from Kandahar, to use her thumb to sign for her prescription of contraception at her mother's home where she is now living in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Alia Walezada a CBE (Community Based Educator) uses a talking book to describe aspects of primary and child health care to Farida, a 32 year old mother of seven children who has been recently displaced from Kandahar at her mother's home where she is now living in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Fawizia Nabi, who has 11 children, listens to a talking book that a CBE (Community Based Educator) uses as a learning tool at her home in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Asidi, 18 years old and who has just given birth to her first child listens while a CBE (Community Based Educator) who has been trained by Care, uses a talking book as a learning tool to demonstrate important health messages for new mothers at her home in District 6 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 12th October, 2010.
- Nafisa Jan Mohammed, three months pregnant with her ninth child and who has recently suffered a stroke that has crippled half her body and made her unable to walk, sits on her bed in the one room she shares with her husband, nine children and mother in law, who is seated on the floor, in District 5 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 13th October, 2010.
- Kadrigol Namodin, who has eight children, discusses how to look after her newborn baby with a Community Based Educator (CBE), who is using a talking book as a learning tool, and who has been trained by Care International in the one room she lives in with her husband and all of her children in District 5 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 13th October, 2010.
- Samajan, who has four children, including this new born baby, talks to a Community Based Educator (CBE) about the importance of vaccinations, using a talking book as a learning tool, at her home in District 5 of Kabul, Afghanistan on the 13th October, 2010.
