Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places on earth for women and children. Only 14 percent of its women have access to skilled medical childbirth care – partly because Afghanistan’s male health care providers are not allowed to treat women. Each day, 70 pregnant Afghan women die, many during childbirth.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
Sakena Yacoobi, a longtime advocate for women’s rights, was determined to do something about the country’s high maternal mortality rate – and the fact that one in four Afghan children don’t live to see their fifth birthday. She went on to found the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL).
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
In 2006, the Afghan Institute of Learning partnered with Abbott, the Abbott Fund and Direct Relief International to improve the health of women and children in Afghanistan. The Abbott Fund has focused its support on empowering Afghan women through the training of female midwives to provide skilled assistance during labor and delivery, as well as care for infants and children. In addition, the Abbott Fund supports five of AIL's clinics – staffed and operated primarily by Afghan women – to provide quality patient care and services.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
The Abbott Fund helps support AIL’s five clinics, which are staffed and operated by Afghan women. They serve mostly rural areas in the Herat and Kabul provinces.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
To date, 78 women have completed midwife training through AIL. Most of them now work in clinics and hospitals.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
Many of Sakena Yacoobi’s students take their training classes inside this converted shipping container, which is located on the grounds of the Herat clinic.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
The women appreciate the opportunity to study, even in cramped conditions.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
In addition to grant support from the Abbott Fund, Abbott supports AIL’s five clinics with donations of medical and nutrition products.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
We support AIL’s five-day health education workshops, where local women learn the basics of health care and nutrition. The workshops also teach Afghan women how to read.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
Over the past five years, Sakena Yacoobi’s organization has delivered reproductive health services to more than 145,000 Afghan women and conducted health education classes for more than 775,000.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
AIL has also performed nutritional assessments for nearly 120,000 children.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families
The Abbott Fund is an active member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, whose mission is to empower Afghan women by mobilizing public and private resources to advance women’s health, financial standing and social status.
Improving Education and Health Services for Vulnerable Families