Nurse Nooria, Making a Difference for Hundreds of Newborn Babies in Paktia
UNICEF and the World Bank collaborate to improve healthcare services in Afghanistan
Gardez, Afghanistan - Nooria had always known that she wanted to become a nurse. She had seen firsthand the struggles of her community and she wanted to do something to help. “The number of nurses in Paktia is very small that is why I studied to be a nurse, I wanted to serve my people,” says 24-year-old Nooria.
After graduating in 2016, she landed a job at the regional hospital in Gardez. She loved working with patients, and she quickly became known for her kind and compassionate nature. When COVID-19 hit, Nooria was on the frontlines, working tirelessly for almost two years to help care for the sick and protect her community.
In late August 2022, Nooria heard about a new project in Paktia Regional Hospital. UNICEF was renovating and staffing a newborn care unit at the hospital to be a ‘Centre of Excellence’, a model newborn care unit not just for Paktia but all of Afghanistan. Nooria knew she had to be a part of it. She applied to join the team and was thrilled to be accepted.
Nooria loves her work at the newborn care unit, and she is proud to be part of a team that is making such a difference in the lives of so many babies. "When they bring the babies here they are in very bad situation, we all do our best, and when they get better it makes me happy," says nurse Nooria. "We are very grateful for the support of UNICEF and the people who work here. It's really a big support for the life of these babies."
As a nurse at the newborn care unit, alongside a team of 12 dedicated professionals, all working 24/7, in three shifts, focused on improving the quality of care for newborns in the region. With thanks to UNICEF’s Thematic Funding donors the team was provided with everything they needed to succeed, including 13 baby warmers, 2 incubators, and essential medicines.
At the same time, UNICEF’s partnership with the World Bank plays a crucial role in helping the unit operate by covering salaries of health workers, including nurse Nooria and her colleagues, who have been working to provide top-quality care at the hospital.
The combined efforts of UNICEF and the World Bank are making a significant impact in improving the quality of care for newborns in the region and helping to reduce child mortality rates in Afghanistan.
