For Women in Pakistan, Giving Birth is a Battle Between Life and Death

Sa'adia Khan

Nearly every hour, one woman in Pakistan dies from complications during birth. In Balochistan, the rate is even higher than the rest of the country. A third of women marry before the age of 15, and two-thirds of them are illiterate. This, along with poverty and the distance from clinics, contributes to the high maternal mortality rate, leaving women to make important prenatal decisions without the power to do so. Only three out of ten pregnant women deliver their babies with skilled health workers there to help them. Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is in Balochistan providing comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, pediatric, and gynecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition services to combat the issue.

Chaman (Baluchistan) – MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, paediatric and gynaecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition services at a hospital of the Ministry of Health. Women rush to collect a token number for the antenatal clinic. All are wearing the traditional burka or long shawls (chaddar) to cover themselves. They are being attended by a health educator.
Sa'adia Khan
Chaman (Baluchistan) – MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, paediatric and gynaecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition services at a hospital of the Ministry of Health. A child delivered at 32 weeks with a weight of 2.15 Kg
Sa'adia Khan
Chaman – MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, paediatric and gynaecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition Chaman (Baluchistan) – MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, paediatric and gynaecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition services at a hospital of the Ministry of Health. Patient Aminah is admitted with membrane rupture. The doctor confirms the baby is safe and well.
Sa'adia Khan
Chaman (Baluchistan) – MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, paediatric and gynaecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition services at a hospital of the Ministry of Health. Baby of patient Lala Khan just after being born with 3,17 kg of weight.
Sa'adia Khan
Chaman (Baluchistan) – MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal nursery, paediatric and gynaecological inpatient care, emergency referrals, and nutrition services at a hospital of the Ministry of Health. Baby of patient Lala Khan just after being born with 3.17 kg of weight.
Sa'adia Khan
Dera Murad Jamali (Baluchistan)– MSF provides comprehensive emergency obstetric care, neonatal and paediatric inpatient care, basic health care, and nutrition services at the District Headquarter Hospital. Women walking to the Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Centre with their children.
Sa'adia Khan
Quetta (Baluchistan)– MSF runs a paediatric hospital, with programs on nutrition and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Surat Khan with her daughter Gulalai, affected by a pneumonia.
Sa'adia Khan
Quetta (Baluchistan)– MSF runs a paediatric hospital, with programs on nutrition and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Patient Gulparo at the nursary with her daughter, that was born prematurely.
Sa'adia Khan
Quetta (Baluchistan)– MSF runs a paediatric hospital, with programs on nutrition and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The nursery.
Sa'adia Khan