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USAID gives rural, isolated women in Tajikistan a better chance to survive when emergencies arise.
In Worst Case Scenarios, Mother's Fund a Bargain
Photo: Tajikistan Single Year Assistance Project
Shulabibi Ismatova stands in her yard following her recovery. The burns on her neck and chest are visible.
"I can't imagine what my
children would have done
on that terrible day if there
had been no Mother's
Fund," said Ismatova.
A few pennies per month may mean the difference between life
and death for a woman in the mountainous villages of
Tajikistan. There, in such isolation, USAID and partner Mercy
Corps have been helping mothers prepare for worst-case
scenarios since 2009.
Some of this assistance comes by way of training community-selected
volunteers to improve women's knowledge on health,
agriculture and disaster preparedness. Another has been the
creation of a Mother's Fund – a community-managed pool of
money – to respond to the emergency health issues of mothers
and their children. Every mother contributes as much as she
can to the fund and it's used as a form of informal health
insurance when money is tight.
Shulabibi Ismatova, a 38-year-old housewife, is a resident of
Pildoni Bolo, a remote village in Tajikistan's Rasht Valley. Her
husband is a migrant laborer in Russia, along with many other
men who work abroad to provide for their extended families.
Ismatova lives alone with her mother-in-law and four young
children.
One day, while starting a fire in the tandur (traditional oven) to
bake bread, a fuel explosion caused severe burns on
Ismatova's throat and chest. With her husband away and her
children and mother-in-law in shock from the accident, no one
was able to help her. For the poor family, a ride to the hospital
was cost-prohibitive.
After hearing the commotion, Mohiyon, a neighbor and an
agriculture volunteer with the program, came to their aid. She
gave them $11 from the Fund and organized a car to take
Ismatova to the hospital, 16 miles away. Although Ismatova
was in a critical condition, she has recovered after nearly a one-month
stay.
"I can't imagine what my children would have done on that
terrible day if there had been no Mothers' Fund," said Ismatova.
"Those days nobody believed that I would recover. I wish
prosperity to the Mercy Corps volunteers that helped me
survive."
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