Description

Giving mums and babies a greater chance of survival. For several years, TEAR has been funding three of our partners in Afghanistan to deliver the Birth Life Saving Skills (BLiSS) program. A health education program that trains community members in basic life-saving skills related to pregnancy, birth and newborn care. Simple things, like ensuring a safe, clean birthing space or identifying risks in pregnancy that enable women to get access to medical care earlier, make an enormous difference.

How your gift helps

The birth of a baby is meant to be a time of joy and excitement, but for many women living in Afghanistan it's a time of great uncertainty and risk. Although it has improved dramatically over the past five years, maternal mortality rates remain high. Women here are 65 times more at risk of dying in childbirth than women in Australia. They usually give birth in their homes, often in remote areas. In the lead-up to the birth, only 19% of women have access to a trained health care practitioner.

The Birth Life Saving Skills (BLiSS) program, developed by TEAR's partner Operation Mercy, is helping to improve these statistics, and make a real difference in the lives of mothers and babies in Afghanistan. BLiSS is a health education program that trains community members, irrespective of literacy level, in basic life-saving skills related to pregnancy, birth and newborn care. It helps both women and men in the community to recognise common maternal and child health issues, and to take action to help give both mums and babies a greater chance of survival.

With many Afghan women delivering babies in their own homes, this information is extremely valuable, leading to safer and more hygienic birthing practices.

For several years now, TEAR has been funding three of our partners in Afghanistan to deliver the BLiSS program to the communities they are working with. The program has become an integral part of our partners' projects and there are many stories of hope and life that have emerged as a result of this training. Simple things, like ensuring a safe, clean birthing space or identifying risks in pregnancy that enable women to get access to medical care earlier, make an enormous difference.

* World Bank World Development Report 2014