Inside a maternity clinic in rural Afghanistan - in pictures

  • Afghanistan faces an important juncture in its troubled history – all foreign troops will be gone by September 11 leaving the Afghan government and its armed forces to fight the Taliban largely on their own.
    Afghanistan faces an important juncture in its troubled history – all foreign troops will be gone by September 11 leaving the Afghan government and its armed forces to fight the Taliban largely on their own.
  • Some leading academics, politicians and military experts have warned the country that it faces a ‘Saigon moment’ of comprehensive defeat with Taliban insurgents exploiting the drawdown and taking control of Kabul.
    Some leading academics, politicians and military experts have warned the country that it faces a ‘Saigon moment’ of comprehensive defeat with Taliban insurgents exploiting the drawdown and taking control of Kabul.
  • But how does this affect maternity care in Afghanistan? Here, women wait with their children at a government-run maternity clinic in a rural area of Dand district in Kandahar province.
    But how does this affect maternity care in Afghanistan? Here, women wait with their children at a government-run maternity clinic in a rural area of Dand district in Kandahar province.
  • Since the drawdown of foreign forces began in Afghanistan - now all but complete -- and a subsequent escalation of Taliban violence, there have been signs that already limited maternity care could be even further restricted, as thousands of women are displaced and roads become increasingly dangerous.
    Since the drawdown of foreign forces began in Afghanistan - now all but complete -- and a subsequent escalation of Taliban violence, there have been signs that already limited maternity care could be even further restricted, as thousands of women are displaced and roads become increasingly dangerous.
  • A nurse registers a patient at a mobile clinic set up at the residence of a local elder in Yarmuhamad village, near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province.
    A nurse registers a patient at a mobile clinic set up at the residence of a local elder in Yarmuhamad village, near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province.
  • Farzana, who fled her village in Helmand when it was overrun by the Taliban, waits with her baby to see a doctor.
    Farzana, who fled her village in Helmand when it was overrun by the Taliban, waits with her baby to see a doctor.
  • Nurse Husna (L) records the personal details of Khorma, who doesn’t know her exact age, for an antenatal care visit at a government-run maternity in Dand.
    Nurse Husna (L) records the personal details of Khorma, who doesn’t know her exact age, for an antenatal care visit at a government-run maternity in Dand.
  • Husna checks Khorma’s blood pressure.
    Husna checks Khorma’s blood pressure.
  • Women wait with their children. It is feared maternity services will be devastated if the Taliban takes control.
    Women wait with their children. It is feared maternity services will be devastated if the Taliban takes control.
  • A nurse tends to a mother and her infant at the therapeutic feeding unit of NGO ‘Action contre La Faim’ in Lashkar Gah.
    A nurse tends to a mother and her infant at the therapeutic feeding unit of NGO ‘Action contre La Faim’ in Lashkar Gah.
  • Midwife Najia (R) speaks to a woman on a house visit in a rural area of Dand.
    Midwife Najia (R) speaks to a woman on a house visit in a rural area of Dand.
  • Qandi Gul, a midwife working for Action contre la Faim, registers patients at the mobile clinic in Yarmuhamad village, Helmand.
    Qandi Gul, a midwife working for Action contre la Faim, registers patients at the mobile clinic in Yarmuhamad village, Helmand.
  • Perojia holds her child Gulalai, who suffers from diarrhoea and malnutrition.
    Perojia holds her child Gulalai, who suffers from diarrhoea and malnutrition.
  • Patients register for maternity care in Yarmuhamad.
    Patients register for maternity care in Yarmuhamad.