Physical Health Afghanistan Project #66693

Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health

by Operation Mercy

Project Report | Jan 23, 2026
Hope for Women in Afghanistan

By Andrea Vogt | International Director Operation Mercy

women completing their training

Dear friends of Operation Mercy and supporters of our projects in Afghanistan,

Let me bring the voice of the women themselves to you today.

After tragically losing her first child, a young mother in Afghanistan shares:

“Now I am four months pregnant again. At the beginning of this pregnancy, I constantly worried about how to properly care for this child. One day, a young woman knocked on our door. I opened it, and she introduced herself as a representative from the Township Clinic, offering nutritional counselling.

Their advice has been incredibly helpful. I’ve learned how to take better care of myself and my baby. I used to drink almost no water, but now I drink at least eight glasses daily. I also include food from all three food groups in my diet and take better care of my health overall. I have started visiting the clinic regularly, and they have given me folic acid tablets to support my pregnancy.”

Through this project, many lives have been saved.

You are an active part — a co-worker — in saving these lives!

For 2026, we have received UN humanitarian funding for some of the clinical work in Kabul. However, the community training — the work directly with women, who teach other women, who visit and follow up house to house — still needs to be funded by donations like yours.

Clinical work saves the lives of mothers and newborns, but the training of women community health promoters builds community for women otherwise locked in their homes, builds capacity for women banned from schools and universities, and brings hope to a generation of Afghans who have little to hope for.

Thank you for helping us build a new community of hope and justice in Afghanistan today.

Yours,
Andrea

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Sep 26, 2025
New hope for mothers in Afghanistan

By Andrea Vogt | International Director Operation Mercy

assessing a child for malnutrition

Dear friends of Operation Mercy Afghanistan,

Today I want to share two amazing stories of change that you helped make possible. Sit back and listen to these voices as they tell you how your support has impacted their lives!

1. Shaima: A Second Chance for a Healthy Pregnancy (name changed)

"My name is Shaima, and I have been married for three years. For the first year, I was unable to conceive. Then, by the grace of God, I became pregnant. My own family lives in Iran, and my mother-in-law was not supportive. I had no knowledge of how to take care of myself during pregnancy, and eventually, my baby was born.

"When the baby was seven days old, I woke up around 10 p.m. to his crying. I picked him up to breastfeed and laid him beside me, placing my breast in his mouth. I was so tired that I fell asleep. Tragically, the pressure of my body caused my baby to suffocate and pass away.

"Now, I am four months pregnant again. At the beginning of this pregnancy, I constantly worried about how to properly care for this child. One day, a young woman knocked on our door. I opened it, and she introduced herself as a representative from the Zakireen Township Clinic, offering nutritional counselling.

"Their advice has been incredibly helpful. I’ve learned how to take better care of myself and my baby. I used to drink almost no water, but now I drink at least 8 glasses daily. I also include food from all three food groups in my diet and take better care of my health overall. I have started visiting the clinic regularly, and they have given me folic acid tablets to support my pregnancy."

Zarlasht: Empowering Mothers Through Breastfeeding Education (name changed)

"In my family, my sister-in-law used to delay breastfeeding her baby, thinking that by doing so she was allowing the milk to “build up” for later. However, this approach had the opposite effect — over time, her milk supply decreased, and her baby remained hungry.

"After attending breastfeeding education sessions at the Zakireen Township Clinic, I learned that the more frequently a mother breastfeeds, the more milk she produces. I shared this knowledge with my sister-in-law, and she began applying the advice.

"Now, she no longer experiences issues with low milk supply. She breastfeeds her baby more frequently, and as a result, her child is no longer left hungry.

"Thanks to the nutrition program at Zakireen Clinic for providing such valuable and life-changing education."

Isn’t it amazing to see how simple lessons — someone walking alongside these young mothers — can make such a difference, even between life and death for some babies?

Thank you for partnering with us to change the lives of Afghan women and children — one life, one lesson, one step at a time.

Yours,
Andrea

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May 22, 2025
Needed Now More Than Ever...

By Andrea Vogt | International Director Operation Mercy

women at a child health training in Afghanistan

Dear Friends and Supporters of Operation Mercy in Afghanistan,

Thank you for standing with us during these times of significant change and growing need around the world.

This past week, I—Andrea—had the privilege of traveling with our Country Director for Afghanistan for a few days. We drove over 1,500 kilometers, visiting partners of our work in Germany. Although we speak regularly online and I receive frequent project updates, it was a powerful experience to witness her passion, hope, and joy in person.

She radiates a deep love for the Afghan people—especially for women and children—and carries a hope rooted in conviction and a trust in God. This hope brings joy even amid immense suffering and hardship.

At the same time, she and all of us at Operation Mercy International are not blind to reality.

Our work in nutrition and maternal and child health is more urgently needed than ever before.

Changes in the international aid landscape have led to widespread cuts in humanitarian assistance. Sadly, countries like Afghanistan—and especially the most vulnerable people—are suffering the most.

In recent weeks, 400 clinics in Afghanistan were closed following the withdrawal of USAID. These clinics provided essential services: prenatal and newborn care, vaccinations, and treatment for primary health issues like diarrhea—conditions that are simple to treat but deadly when neglected.

Additionally, one-third of food supplies for malnourished children and pregnant women are being cut due to funding reductions for UN agencies.

In the face of these challenges, our project becomes even more critical.

Our two small clinics in Kabul will now serve a larger population, as clinics in neighboring districts have shut down. Our nutrition and child health program in Mazar-i-Sharif must now reach those previously served by mobile clinics—all of which have been discontinued due to the USAID cuts.

And as food aid diminishes, our community education programs become more vital than ever.

Let me tell you about Fatima, a former schoolteacher who now attends our nutrition classes. Here, she learns about breastfeeding, food groups, and how to create balanced meals—even something as simple as rice, chickpeas, and spinach. She then shares this knowledge with 12 women in her neighborhood, monitors babies and pregnant women, and refers anyone showing signs of undernourishment to our clinics.

For Fatima, these lessons are a lifeline. They offer her a space to teach, empower, and bring hope to other women. They strengthen her capacity and give her the courage to act for her community, even as the space for women in Afghanistan continues to shrink.

Our unique combination of clinic care and community education is saving lives in Afghanistan—every single day. I'm confident of that.

Even beyond our direct involvement, education will continue to save lives. It equips people to take responsibility for their own health and the well-being of their communities.

Seeing the impact of these stories on our supporters is a joy for us. And being able to offer you the chance to bring practical love, hope, and joy to Afghan families today excites us—almost as much as doing the work itself.

Thank you for continuing to support this project and for sharing it with your friends and family.

With gratitude,
Andrea and the Afghanistan Team

Nutrition lesson in the community in Afghanistan

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