By Jamil Danish
The United Nations Population Fund is increasing its support to family planning in Afghanistan with the opening of more centres and additional training.
Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in Asia and birth spacing is seen as one of the most effective ways to reduce maternal mortality.
In 2009 UNFPA is providing technical and financial support to the Ministry of Public Health to establish two more family training centres in Jalalabad and Mazar in addition to an existing centre in Kabul.
Until now UNFPA and the Ministry of Public Health have provided family planning advice through a centre at the Rabia Balkhi hospital in Kabul.
So far 21,987 mothers have been counselled since the establishment of the centre in August 2002 which was funded by UNFPA with US$ 180,000. Families who receive counselling mostly come from Kabul and the surrounding provinces.
"Illiteracy is one of the reasons for consecutive births. There are also cultural and religious beliefs behind them as people think that birth spacing could be considered a sin, but they know little about the risks posed to a mother," said Dr. Najia Tareq, the executive director of Rabia Balkhi hospital and a family planning master trainer. "Therefore, we advise men and women what risk it poses to mothers and what steps they should follow in order to avoid any dangers women are more likely to face," explained Dr. Najia.
The family planning centre besides counselling mothers on birth control, risk of consecutive births and other maternal issues also provides training to midwives around the country. "We have trained counsellors for 22 provinces around the country," said Dr. Najia.
The centre counsels about 80 mothers a day. "I have five children and I do not want any more because I am not able to look after them and my oldest child is eight," said Ms. Hamida, 22.
Najila, another mother visiting the family planning centre for counselling has four children. "Economically, I cannot afford to have more children," she said.
"There must be three years birth spacing in order to have a full recovery from a pervious birth and to reduce the risk of maternal mortality and other pregnancy related problems," said Dr. Zaibulnessa Alam, UNFPA programme officer.
"I have a message for men: I know that most of my countrymen are farmers and they know if they do not have enough spacing between the trees that they plant, it will have bad consequences; and they must know that applies to having kids too. If you would like to have better and healthier kids please do consider birth spacing," explained Prof. Mohammad Maruf Sameh, head of the maternity service and a member of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).
