Schools bridge the gap in mother and child healthcare

LAGHMAN
Schools bridge the gap in mother and child healthcare

A two-day health education campaign aimed at convincing communities in taking women to health facilities for delivery and other Mother and Child Health (MCH) services was held in four Laghman schools from 26th to 28th June.
The Laghman team targeted 59 teachers in four schools: Mastora and Chilmati female high schools, Navi kala and Ishaq Nangyal male High schools.
According to AMI Laghman Project Manager Dr. Shafiq Shafaq, 5 Community Health Supervisors (CHS) were trained on available MCH services - delivery, Ante-natal Care (ANC), Post-natal Care (PNC), family planning and vaccination in Mehterlam hospital.
Katal village Community Health Supervisor and trainer for the occasion, Abdul Latif rejoiced: “Teachers were interested in the training and they committed to work hard through communities for the strength of the network.”
Navi Kala high school Head Master Isa Khan said: “Mother and child services and vaccination information were particularly fascinating to participants, who count them as essential to their community‘s health.” Since being informed about mother and child services, Isa Khan has referred 8 delivery cases to the health facility. But how does Isa Khan find campaign impact on his students’ community? “It is fully positive,” he replies. “Such campaigns can reach to thousand of students. One has actually informed his villagers and helped refer two deliveries to health facilities.”
With more than 80% of women delivering in their homes by none skillful, local Traditional nurses and primary equipment of delivery, Afghanistan still has a long way to go, but with such efforts, places like Laghman will soon make a real difference.