Afghanistan Strengthens Maternal and Newborn Care Through MNDSR Reviews

LATEST MATERIAL CHANGE

What changed?

Since 2003, the World Health Organization’s Maternal and Newborn Death Surveillance and Response (MNDSR) system has trained more than 900 health workers and managers in Afghanistan. In 50 hospitals, teams have reviewed maternal and newborn deaths to identify gaps such as haemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis, prematurity, birth asphyxia and neonatal sepsis. The reviews, supported by the Asian Development Bank and WHO technical assistance, have led to strengthened referral systems, improved clinical practices and enhanced support for high‑risk mothers and newborns. In 2025, MNDSR implementation expanded to 22 hospitals in 10 provinces and to 28 facilities across seven additional provinces. Midwife Farzana of Nangarhar provincial hospital notes that reviewing each case “helps us assess what needs to be improved.” WHO Representative Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador emphasizes that “every review is an opportunity to learn and act.”

Why it matters

The MNDSR approach turns preventable deaths into actionable learning, improving care quality and reducing maternal and newborn mortality across Afghanistan.