Besides being one of the most fragile and conflict-affected countries in the world, Afghanistan also has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality.

In the remote mountain city of Khost, Afghanistan, women face serious obstacles to obtaining healthcare for themselves and their children. A lack of infrastructure and qualified personnel, frequent medicine shortages, cultural and security constraints, not to mention the physical distance to health care centers are all factors that have contributed to the precarious situation of Afghan women’s healthcare today.

Médecins sans Frontières has been running a Maternity hospital in Khost since 2012 and supporting 8 nearby community health centers for women in need. Through their efforts, around 60 babies are delivered daily and essential postpartum care is provided free-of-charge to mothers. As of 2022, Maßvoll Stiftung has committed a significant multi-year support to the hospital and health centers, aiming to supply them with medical consumables and materials, cover costs for international transport and customs, and provide staff salaries for anesthesiologists, gynecologists, and midwives.

MSF pediatricians look after newly born babies in the neonatal ward at the MSF Khost maternity hospital. © Oriane Zerah