UAE-funded maternity clinics bringing hope to Afghan families
26 June 2025 21:05
JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN (WAM)The UAE-funded maternity clinics are bringing hope to Afghan families.In Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Shazia Mohammadi cradles her newborn daughter, Fatima, her seventh child, but the first to be born in a medical clinic.For the first time, Shazia experienced childbirth with access to doctors, medicines, and professional care. Her daughter was also the first baby delivered at one of ten new maternity clinics built by the UAE across Afghanistan, marking the start of a new chapter for maternal health in rural areas.'Our economic condition was pretty bad all through. Now, thanks to the help we have received, we are much better off. We thank the UAE for this transformation in our lives,' Shazia said.Her husband, Ramadan Mohammadi, recalled their struggles to access care in the past. 'Six of our children were born at home because we couldn't afford transportation to distant hospitals. This is the first time a clinic has been built near our house, and it has been a blessing for us.'These UAE-funded clinics have brought much needed medical care to communities that have long lacked access to even the most basic health services. Located in seven provinces – Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, Paktia, Paktika, Helmand, and Kandahar – the facilities offer maternity and paediatric care, counselling, contraceptive services, emergency care, medicines and referrals for high-risk cases. They also serve as hubs for community outreach, offering health education, awareness programmes, and life-saving vaccinations, including for COVID-19 and BCG to protect against tuberculosis, to more than 20 people each day.Dr. Ikramullah, a doctor at one of the clinics described the change underway, 'Previously, childbirth happened at home, without any medical support, in unsafe, unhygienic conditions. It is changing now, and the people here are so delighted. We not only ensure safe deliveries, but also provide vaccinations, nutritional assistance, and continuous medical care for mothers and newborns.'He pointed to a young child named Ayesha Qamari as an example of the progress being made, 'The impact of these maternity centres is already being felt. This baby is just one of hundreds of children receiving crucial health checks and vaccinations. This will help bring down the high infant mortality rate in Afghanistan, one of the highest in the world.' According to UNICEF, more than 57 children out of 1,000 in Afghanistan die before reaching the age of five.Ayesha's mother shared her experience, 'We have come to the clinic three or four times. Earlier, we could not afford the cost of transport to the city hospital. Many times, the sick children would not survive the long journey. We are deeply indebted to the UAE for building this clinic in our vicinity.'Beyond healthcare, the initiative is also revitalising the local economy. Small businesses – offering services such as transportation and food supply – have emerged around the clinics and over 100 Afghans have been employed in a range of roles, from medical support to administration.Mawlawi Ameenullah Sharif, Health Director of Nagarhar Province, noted the broader impact, 'We thank the UAE for their investment in Afghanistan's healthcare. This clinic was urgently needed, and now, the poor have access to essential services, including vaccinations, maternal care, and nutrition support.'The clinics are all state-of-the-art, equipped with advanced medical equipment, solar power, mobile units, and ambulances – and staffed by dedicated healthcare professionals. They reflect the UAE's commitment to improving quality of life, empowering women and children, and strengthening local communities in Afghanistan.
Expected to impact the lives of more than 100,000 women in the coming years, these facilities represent a transformative step toward accessible healthcare in some of the country's most underserved areas.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
‘We just sit too much': Experts say modern lifestyle major cause of back pain
26 June 2025 23:18 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Modern technology and sedentary lifestyles are leading to an increase in cases of back pain, according to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi experts, who are urging the public to change habits that are silently causing spinal damage — and to act from the hospital's inter-disciplinary team identified the most common risk factors, the warning signs, and the cutting-edge treatment available in the UAE. Aletihad spoke to Dr. Reda Tolba, Division Chair of Pain Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Neurological Institute, and Dr. Nader Hebela, Staff Physician in the Neurosurgery Department at the same institute. 'We just sit too much in 2025, which lends itself to increased risk of lower back pain,' said Dr. Hebela. 'Think about your life on a daily basis. You sit in your car on the way to work, you go to work, and you probably sit at the desk. These extended periods of sitting throughout multiple days can lead to muscle imbalance, reduced spinal flexibility, and increased pressure on spinal discs.'Dr. Tolba pointed out that poor posture while using phones and laptops also takes its toll.'Improper ergonomics and slouching over devices cause strain on the neck and lower back muscles. Repetitive bad habits over time can lead to chronic pain and spinal issues,' he urged people to pay attention to how they sit and view screens, 'Try to sit properly and look at your devices in a healthy way to avoid developing these habits.'But technology and poor posture are not the only causes. According to Dr. Hebela, 'we do not exercise enough either.'He cited recommendations by the American Heart Association — adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week.'We also do not strengthen our core. People forget the back is part of the centre of your body. Planks, abdominal work, and lumbar exercises can help significantly,' he gain also plays a major role in back pain risk, especially after periods of inactivity, like during COVID-19 lockdowns. Dr. Tolba noted, 'The more weight gain you have, the stronger the association with increased lower back pain. That is why monitoring your weight, staying active, and doing core strengthening exercises are essential.' For office workers, small changes can help. 'If you sit for long hours, get up every 15 minutes, stretch your back, do neck or shoulder exercises,' Dr. Hebela recommended. 'Even simple movements like plank, sit-ups, or pushups — if space allows — can help maintain spinal health. We rarely see people doing that in offices, but it would make a difference.'However, some back pains are more serious than Tolba warned that 'if the pain is severe, unrelenting, or associated with numbness, weakness, loss of bladder, or bowel control, unexplained weight loss, or fever — those are red flags.'Such symptoms could indicate spinal cord compression or serious underlying conditions.'In these cases, people should go straight to the emergency department,' he care may start with physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments, followed by medication or targeted injections if pain doctors explained that concerns about steroid injections are often overblown. These injections can reduce inflammation and allow patients to resume physical therapy and improve. Surgical options are reserved for specific conditions, and at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and are performed using advanced techniques like robotics, intraoperative navigation, and minimally invasive methods.
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE-funded maternity clinics bringing hope to Afghan families
26 June 2025 21:05 JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN (WAM)The UAE-funded maternity clinics are bringing hope to Afghan Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Shazia Mohammadi cradles her newborn daughter, Fatima, her seventh child, but the first to be born in a medical the first time, Shazia experienced childbirth with access to doctors, medicines, and professional care. Her daughter was also the first baby delivered at one of ten new maternity clinics built by the UAE across Afghanistan, marking the start of a new chapter for maternal health in rural areas.'Our economic condition was pretty bad all through. Now, thanks to the help we have received, we are much better off. We thank the UAE for this transformation in our lives,' Shazia husband, Ramadan Mohammadi, recalled their struggles to access care in the past. 'Six of our children were born at home because we couldn't afford transportation to distant hospitals. This is the first time a clinic has been built near our house, and it has been a blessing for us.'These UAE-funded clinics have brought much needed medical care to communities that have long lacked access to even the most basic health services. Located in seven provinces – Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, Paktia, Paktika, Helmand, and Kandahar – the facilities offer maternity and paediatric care, counselling, contraceptive services, emergency care, medicines and referrals for high-risk cases. They also serve as hubs for community outreach, offering health education, awareness programmes, and life-saving vaccinations, including for COVID-19 and BCG to protect against tuberculosis, to more than 20 people each Ikramullah, a doctor at one of the clinics described the change underway, 'Previously, childbirth happened at home, without any medical support, in unsafe, unhygienic conditions. It is changing now, and the people here are so delighted. We not only ensure safe deliveries, but also provide vaccinations, nutritional assistance, and continuous medical care for mothers and newborns.'He pointed to a young child named Ayesha Qamari as an example of the progress being made, 'The impact of these maternity centres is already being felt. This baby is just one of hundreds of children receiving crucial health checks and vaccinations. This will help bring down the high infant mortality rate in Afghanistan, one of the highest in the world.' According to UNICEF, more than 57 children out of 1,000 in Afghanistan die before reaching the age of mother shared her experience, 'We have come to the clinic three or four times. Earlier, we could not afford the cost of transport to the city hospital. Many times, the sick children would not survive the long journey. We are deeply indebted to the UAE for building this clinic in our vicinity.'Beyond healthcare, the initiative is also revitalising the local economy. Small businesses – offering services such as transportation and food supply – have emerged around the clinics and over 100 Afghans have been employed in a range of roles, from medical support to Ameenullah Sharif, Health Director of Nagarhar Province, noted the broader impact, 'We thank the UAE for their investment in Afghanistan's healthcare. This clinic was urgently needed, and now, the poor have access to essential services, including vaccinations, maternal care, and nutrition support.'The clinics are all state-of-the-art, equipped with advanced medical equipment, solar power, mobile units, and ambulances – and staffed by dedicated healthcare professionals. They reflect the UAE's commitment to improving quality of life, empowering women and children, and strengthening local communities in Afghanistan. Expected to impact the lives of more than 100,000 women in the coming years, these facilities represent a transformative step toward accessible healthcare in some of the country's most underserved areas.
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Alcohol abuse among hardest to treat, expert says
Dubai Police have launched a sweeping public awareness campaign to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, aiming to tackle drug use and addiction trends in the country. The multi-agency initiative, held across key shopping malls in the city, focuses on early detection, stigma reduction, and expanding access to treatment for vulnerable groups. More than 600,000 people engaged with the campaign at Dubai Hills Mall alone last year, with thousands more reached through activations at Mirdif City Centre, BurJuman, and Reef Mall. The outreach effort brought together Dubai Customs, the State Security Service, Dubai Health, mental health hospitals, and frontline rehabilitation centres to confront what officials called a growing public health challenge. 'Addiction doesn't discriminate,' said Brigadier General Dr Abdul Rahman Sharaf Al-Maamari, Director of the International Protection Center, General Department of Narcotics Control, Dubai Police. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'It affects workers, students, parents, and even visitors. That's why coordinated national action, including awareness and secure rehabilitation pathways, is so important.' Among the most difficult cases discussed were those involving mothers struggling with substance abuse. Authorities highlighted the challenges of identifying such vulnerable individuals and ensuring treatment without added trauma. 'We are not just focusing on arrests, but on awareness, early intervention, and coordinated care,' he added. 'Finding the right place and establishing a strong protocol for addiction cases, especially when children are involved, is a national priority.' The campaign included interactive workshops, remote lectures, public consultations, and creative competitions targeting different community groups, from school and university students to employees, domestic workers, and airport arrivals. In 2024 alone, Dubai Hills Mall recorded over 619,724 campaign beneficiaries, while Mirdif City Centre and Dubai Mall jointly engaged 14,567 participants. These figures, released by the General Department of Narcotics Control, reflect a growing public interest in education around addiction and mental health. Treatment centers like Erada and Al Amal Hospital for Mental Health have been central to this year's awareness efforts. They have also seen a rise in individuals seeking help, often thanks to family involvement. 'Stigma around addiction is slowly decreasing, and that's encouraging,' said Dr Ammar Hamid Al Banna, Director of Al Amal Hospital. 'More families are stepping forward early, which helps us provide timely support and reduce long-term harm.' He added that alcohol remains one of the hardest substances to treat, not only because of its accessibility but also due to the deadly withdrawal symptoms when not managed medically. Opiates and stimulants also remain prevalent in addiction cases reported to hospitals and clinics. Erada Center, one of the UAE's leading rehabilitation hubs, reported a 43 per cent success rate in treated cases. 'At Erada, our 43 per cent success rate reflects how targeted treatment and community support can change lives,' said a spokesperson for the centre. 'But it's a journey, not a one-time intervention.' Dubai Customs also reiterated its evolving role in combating addiction beyond seizures and inspections. 'Frontline agencies like ours play a key role in early detection,' said a senior Customs representative. 'But beyond seizures, we are now part of a larger effort to support treatment and reintegration.' This year's campaign didn't just aim to raise awareness, but to actively involve the public in shaping future initiatives. Community members were invited to contribute ideas, ask questions, and access on-the-spot consultations, making prevention and recovery a shared responsibility.
