The hospital struggling to save its starving babies

In Jalalabad, Afghanistan, a hospital is facing a heartbreaking situation as many babies are suffering from severe malnutrition. A mother named Amina expresses her deep sorrow, saying, 'This is like doomsday for me. I feel so much grief. Can you imagine what I’ve gone through watching my children dying? ' Tragically, Amina has lost six children, all of whom died before reaching the age of three. Now, her seven-month-old baby, Bibi Hajira, is in critical condition, weighing no more than a newborn. Amina explains, 'My children are dying because of poverty. All I can feed them is dry bread and water that I warm up by keeping it out under the sun. ' Unfortunately, Amina's story is not an isolated case; many families in Afghanistan are struggling to provide adequate nutrition for their children. The hospital ward is eerily quiet, housing 18 toddlers in just seven beds. The silence is only interrupted by the beeping of medical equipment monitoring the children's vital signs. Most of the children are awake but far too weak to move or make any sounds. Among them is three-year-old Sana, who is being cared for by her aunt Laila after her mother passed away during childbirth. Laila holds up seven fingers to signify the number of children she has lost. In another bed lies three-year-old Ilham, who is significantly underweight and has skin peeling off his arms and legs. The sight of one-year-old Asma is particularly painful; she has beautiful hazel eyes but is struggling to breathe with an oxygen mask covering her face. Dr. Sikandar Ghani, the attending physician, shakes his head in despair, stating, 'I don’t think she will survive. ' Asma's mother, Nasiba, is inconsolable, crying, 'It feels like the flesh is melting from my body. I can’t bear to see her suffering like this. ' Nasiba has already lost three children, and her husband works as a laborer, making it difficult for them to afford food. Dr. Ghani warns that Asma could suffer cardiac arrest at any moment, and tragically, she passes away less than an hour later. In the past six months, the hospital has reported over 700 child deaths, averaging more than three each day. This staggering number could have been even higher if not for the support from organizations like the World Bank and Unicef. Before the Taliban took control in August 2021, international funding supported nearly all public healthcare in Afghanistan. However, when the Taliban took over, funding was halted due to international sanctions, leading to a healthcare crisis. Aid agencies stepped in to provide emergency assistance, but the situation remains dire. Dr. Ghani expresses concern about the future, stating, 'If we had more medicines, facilities, and staff, we could save more children. ' He emphasizes the commitment of the healthcare workers, saying, 'I also have children. When a child dies, we also suffer. I know what must go through the hearts of the parents. ' Another child, six-month-old Umrah, is battling severe pneumonia in the intensive care unit. Her mother, Nasreen, is terrified and wishes she could take her daughter's place. Sadly, Umrah dies just two days after the visit. These heartbreaking stories highlight the urgent need for medical assistance in Afghanistan. Only one in five children who require hospital treatment can receive it at Jalalabad hospital. The facility serves a population of approximately five million people across five provinces, and the pressure on it has intensified due to the influx of Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan. The United Nations has reported alarming statistics, revealing that 45% of children under five years old in Afghanistan are stunted, meaning they are shorter than they should be for their age. Robina, a mother of a two-year-old son named Mohammed, is deeply concerned about his health. She explains, 'The doctor has told me that if he gets treatment for the next three to six months, he will be fine. But we can’t even afford food. How do we pay for the treatment? ' Robina and her family had to leave Pakistan and now live in a dusty settlement near Jalalabad. She fears that her son may never be able to walk if he does not receive the necessary care. The situation is critical, and many children are at risk of permanent damage if they do not receive timely treatment. Aid agencies are struggling to provide support, as many have received only a fraction of the funding they need. Sardar Gul, a father of two malnourished children, shares that food sachets from an aid agency have significantly improved his youngest son Mujib's health. Mujib's weight has increased from less than three kilos to six kilos, although he is still underweight. This demonstrates that with timely intervention, children can recover from malnutrition and avoid severe health consequences.