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Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
Champions of Change in Afghanistan
 18
PRESBYTERIAN
SUMMER 2018
presbyterian.ca
   By Anna Muir, PWS&D Communications Assistant
Afghanistan continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth. Most women de- liver without the care of skilled birth attendants, partly because of the scarcity of health centres and mid- wives, as well as cultural norms that demand women give birth at home.
Tragically, without this expertise and care, the process of bringing new life into the world can be life threaten- ing for mothers and their babies.
Living in the remote village of Mashinna in Afghanistan, Asma felt anxious while pregnant with her third child. She was alone—her husband works in Iran as a labourer and sends some money each month to help support them. But it isn’t enough to cover household expenses, especial- ly health care or the cost of travel to distant hospitals.
Isolated from the care she needed, Asma feared what might happen while delivering her baby alone.
A Life-Changing Visit
With support from the Government of Canada, PWS&D has been working in Afghanistan and Malawi to prevent tragic, senseless deaths and ensure mothers and babies have the chance to lead healthy and hopeful lives to- gether.
For the past seven years, PWS&D’s maternal, newborn and child health program has been improving access to health care by building health cen- tres and developing the skills of birth attendants. Additionally, community- based health promotion is educating people on why the services are im-
portant, increasing the demand for them and empowering women and girls to make decisions for their own well-being.
Asma was in her third trimester when PWS&D helped establish a new health centre just outside her village. The health centre is among six new facilities established through the project in Laghman province, Afghanistan, with local partners at Community World Service Asia.
One day, a community health worker came to Asma’s home to tell her about the maternal care available at the nearby facility.
The worker examined Asma, pre- scribed multivitamins and discussed the importance of safe pregnancy and delivery practices. She helped Asma register as a patient and scheduled her for regular prenatal appointments.
As a patient, Asma also partici- pated in health, hygiene and nutrition sessions with other expectant wom- en. With each visit to the clinic, she felt her anxieties subside.
After a few months, with the skilled and compassionate care of a midwife and birth attendant, Asma gave birth to a strong little girl.
Asma rejoiced, “The staff at the health facility was very cooperative and helped me, resulting in the safe delivery of my beautiful daughter.”
Asma continues to visit the clinic where she participates in nutrition, family planning and breastfeeding sessions.
When she looks at her smiling baby girl, Asma is filled with gratitude for the dedicated health worker who visited her that day and the many others who continue to serve the
Asma and her baby receive care at the Nowdamorra Health Centre in Laghman province, Afghanistan. PHOTO CREDIT: COM- MUNITY WORLD SERVICE ASIA
community.
When we improve maternal and
child health, all people benefit— household income increases, fami- lies grow more food, children are cared for, and women and girls are better able to claim their right to a healthy life. Inspired by God’s prom- ise of abundant life, PWS&D remains committed to this vital work.
PWS&D’s maternal, newborn and child health program receives generous funding from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.
  A child is screened for malnutrition. The maternal health program in Afghanistan helps children grow strong and healthy through access to essential health ser- vices. PHOTO CREDIT: COMMUNITY WORLD SERVICE ASIA
     Presbyterian Growing Project Members Visit Malawi
By Shaylyn McMahon, Communications Assistant, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, with additional content from PWS&D
The worst crop that Meaford, Ont., farmer Henry Reinders has ever pro- duced was last year’s hay crop.
“In order to make dry hay you need at least three consecutive days of dry weather and we rarely got that,” says Henry. “Last year was the wettest summer I’ve ever expe- rienced.”
Thankfully, his customers still accepted his hay. “I’ve been very for tunate and never had a situation where a poor crop has affected me financially,” he says.
That’s not the case for many farmers around the world, though.
“In Malawi, farmers feel the ef- fects of crop failure and climate change quite differently,” says Henry, who, through a learning tour organized by Canadian Foodgrains Bank, recently returned home from visiting small-scale farmers affected by hunger in Malawi.
A member of Knox Presbyte- rian Church in Meaford, Henry has helped organize the Bighead River growing project for over 20 years. The trip to Malawi was an opportu- nity to see first-hand how their con- tributions are used.
Henry learned that many Ma- lawian farmers are dealing with
Meaford, Ont., farmer Henry Reinders (right) with Malawian farmer Danny Gwira (left), who learned conservation agriculture through a PWS&D supported project. PHOTO CREDIT: SHAYLYN MCMAHON, CFGB
increasingly unpredictable weather patterns like prolonged drought and erratic rainfall. Producing a viable crop can be difficult.
“The farmers I met are dealing with one or two acres, and if they have a poor yield it totally devastates them—they have nothing to eat and they’re searching for ways to get money to buy food,” he shares.
As part of the tour, Henry stayed in the home of Pressings Moyo, a farmer who participated in a PWS&D-supported agricultural training project. The project is help- ing farmers learn from other farmers in their community how to cultivate
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