22-year-old Sharifa is one of the thousands of Afghan mothers struggling to overcome the hurdles that are posed by a healthcare system weakened by decades of war, poor facilities, and social and cultural barriers that are difficult to break.

Afghanistan: The Valley of Women
The Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan. In an area with one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world, EMERGENCY gynaecologists and obstetricians monitor 150 pregnant women and 15 births every single day.
Keren, one of the team at the Anabah Maternity Centre, tells us about EMERGENCY’s work, and explains why the centre is fundamental to the inhabitants of the Valley and beyond: The Valley of Women.