“I visit approximately 25-35 homes every day. Without this, people would be forced to walk one to two hours through the mountains.”

Decades of conflict have devastated the healthcare infrastructure in Afghanistan. Access to basic necessities such as medicine and vaccines is extremely scarce, and has declined sharply since the de facto authorities seized power in 2021.

Striving to bring healthcare and other essential support to those who desperately need it, Relief International operates 110 health facilities across the country. Spanning ten provinces, our facilities play a critical role for the people they serve and are often the local community’s only option for healthcare.

Hamza works as a vaccinator at one of these health facilities. He goes door to door to provide vaccines, which can be extremely difficult, especially in the wintertime.

Going the distance during the long winter months 

As winter sets in and heavy snowfall isolates communities even further, people with existing or emergency health conditions are at heightened risk. Undeterred by the climate and the challenges it poses, dedicated team members like Hamza go above and beyond to help their patients.  

Hamza says, “During the winter we see 1-2 meters of snow which renders the roads unusable. Many roads are very steep, and some become frozen.”

Alongside administering essential vaccines, the 13 health staff at Hamza’s clinic deliver newborns and provide pre- and post-natal care, as well as mental health support, treatment for conditions ranging from severe acute malnutrition to moderate acute malnutrition for both children and mothers, and tuberculosis treatment. 

Partnering with the community 

Truly embedded in the fabric of the local community, Hamza holds regular meetings with village elders and religious leaders who help him to provide education on important health issues to families in the area.  

Hamza has worked for  Relief International for 15 years, and is now a key fixture in the community. “The relationships I have built in the community inspire me to keep going. The collaborative environment and sense of camaraderie inspires me to persevere.” 

This sentiment is shared with the community he supports. “Hamza has been visiting our community to provide vaccines for several years and is a well-known figure. He is professional and reliable, and his efforts have greatly benefited our remote village,” says Ahmad, a resident of a remote village in Afghanistan. 

Help us to go further 

Last year in Afghanistan, we  

• administered nearly 15,000 tetanus toxoid vaccines for mothers, 

• provided 87,000 consultations for children under 5 years old, 

• supplied nutrition supplements to almost 9,000 people, and  

• delivered over 1,600 babies safely, including 48 caesarean sections. 

No matter the season, Relief International team members like Hamza, work across Afghanistan to go the distance each and every day. They are passionate about serving their communities and will do whatever they can to do so. 

With your support, we can go even further.  

Stand with us in this vital mission—donate today and help us continue bringing life-saving healthcare to those who need it most, in the remote mountains of Afghanistan and beyond. 

Please donate today.