Medair’s mission in Afghanistan

"My daughter is hungry," says Zarlashta, the mother of eight-month-old Zohra. When asked why, she explains: "Our family does not have enough food to eat three meals a day, and I struggle to produce enough milk for her.”

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Zarlashat has arrived at a Medair health facility site just before its opening time, carrying eight-month-old Zohra in her arms. She is fortunate to have Medair's clinic in her village, sparing her the need to walk for hours to access healthcare. Medair operates multiple clinics in remote villages, providing health and nutrition services to communities affected by poverty and Afghanistan’s hunger crisis.

When Medair’s health team examined Zohra, she weighed 6.1 kg at the age of eight months. At this age, a baby girl would typically weigh around 8 kg or more. The health team also measured her mid-upper arm circumference, a key screening tool for acute malnutrition, and concluded that she needed treatment.

The team at the Medair-supported clinic immediately enrolled Zohra in its nutrition programme, She will receive specialised nutritious food, medical screening, and follow-up visits over the next 12 weeks. Zarlashta will also receive counselling on breastfeeding, feeding practices, and signs that require urgent medical attention

. "I have high hopes for my daughter. I hope she will become healthy like the son of my neighbour who was malnourished and then recovered after receiving treatment at this clinic. His mother told me: ‘Take Zohra to this clinic,’" Zarlashta said.

Zarlashta lives in a large family with her father-in-law and her brother-in-laws’ families. Their only source of income is a small vegetable farm where her father-in-law works. She frequently eats aubergines and okra, which do not support her in producing breast milk.

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The nutrition ward at Medair’s clinic in a remote village of Uruzgan province serves many mothers and children who may otherwise have limited access to these essential services.  

The World Food Programme reports that millions of mothers and children are malnourished, and almost one-third of the country’s population is food insecure. Remote villages are among the hardest hit by Afghanistan’s hunger crisis, which is why Medair prioritises these communities.  

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“Women from the village told me that there were high rates of mortality and morbidity among mothers and children and that these have fallen significantly since the Medair clinic became operating here,” said Zulala, a Medair nurse.

With support from European Union Humanitarian Aid, Medair can run clinics like this one,providing screening, treatment, counselling and follow-up care,reaching children like Zohra and many others who need essential health and nutrition services in remote communities across Afghanistan.

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Pseudonyms have been used for the people mentioned in the article to protect their identities.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.