Every role matters in healthcare

For the roughly 7,500 Afghan refugees living in the Turkaman camp in Pakistan’s northern Nowshera District, life has never been easy. Among them is 48-year-old Jan Bibi, who fled Afghanistan as a child. “We were unfamiliar with the roads, with everything,” she recalls. Her family arrived with nothing but hope, receiving tents and basic supplies from kind strangers.

Years later, her husband earned 25 rupees a day loading sand. “We were easily managing the house as there was no inflation,” Jan says. But as prices rose, survival became harder. To keep food on the table for her six children, Jan sold livestock and opened a small shop. Despite that, debt kept piling up due to medical expenses and the family faced another setback when her son was cheated by an employer.

Then came a turning point. “Fortunately I got a job as cleaner in Malteser International's basic health unit. I repaid half of the debt,” Jan explains. Her work may seem simple, but it matters. Maintaining clean floors and hygiene are essential to protecting patients, including mothers and newborns.

The basic health unit is more than a workplace. It’s a lifeline for the entire camp. “Thank God we have a hospital now, which makes our life little easier,” Jan says. In Turkaman camp, electricity is scarce, transport is expensive, and nights are dark. “My daughter is pregnant now,” Jan shares with hope.

“Before, babies were often born dead on the way to the hospital. That’s because in many cases, there was no transport available at night to take pregnant women to a hospital in time. With the new health center, I trust that my daughter will give birth safely.”