Pakistan has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Asia–  with an average of 260 of  every 100, 000 women dying in childbirth each year according to WHO statistics, the rate is even higher in some areas.

Emergency obstetric care is rarely available in small towns and rural areas of Pakistan. This limited access combined with a shortage of qualified female medical staff, and social and economic barriers, means women face significant risks during pregnancy and childbirth.

Those who cannot afford private medical services often cannot even afford transport costs to reach medical facilities. In areas affected by conflict and sectarian clashes, insecurity and travel limitation make it even more difficult for women to access quality obstetric and gynaecological care. In such instances, the role of humanitarian organisations play a significant role in saving lives by providing emergency obstetric care to women.

In this video Jannicken Troemborg, a midwife who works for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), recounts her experiences on providing medical care and safe deliveries in Kuchlak, a town near Quetta in Balochistan. – Video by MSF for Dawn.com, thumbnail images by Jodi Bieber.