Digital App Significantly Reduces Maternal Mortality in Remote Areas of Afghanistan
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reported that the use of the “Safe Delivery App – SDA” by midwives in Afghanistan’s remote regions has played a crucial role in saving the lives of mothers and newborns. According to the agency, this digital tool has become a key resource for providing urgent obstetric care in underserved areas.
According to a report published on Tuesday, February 17th, the app has been widely adopted by midwives since the introduction of its Dari version in 2022. The program offers clinical guidelines, step-by-step educational videos, and interactive resources to assist health workers in delivering safer care to mothers, even in basic settings.
UNFPA added that a significant number of women in Afghanistan still give birth at home or in small local clinics, where medical facilities are limited. In such environments, access to immediate and standardized guidance can be vital in preventing dangerous complications and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Meanwhile, in many rural areas, pregnant women lack access to well-equipped medical centers and female doctors, often forcing them to travel long and sometimes hazardous routes to receive healthcare. The shortage of female health workers and restrictions on women’s work and education under the Taliban have further raised concerns about the future of maternal health services—issues that international organizations have repeatedly stressed require urgent attention.
