The Journey of Zarifa Shirzad

Zarifa Shirzad is a 28-year-old mother of three from Afghanistan’s Samangan Province. Her journey has been one of strength pain and healing – one that reflects both the hardships many Afghan women endure during childbirth and the life-changing impact of specialized care.

Zarifa’s first child was delivered by cesarean section. Her second baby was born through normal delivery, but the experience turned into a nightmare. During labor, Zarifa fell into a coma, and her newborn showed no signs of life. For twelve long days, the baby did not cry. Eventually, the doctors diagnosed her child with an intellectual disability. That traumatic experience left deep scars on Zarifa, both emotionally and physically.

Due to her complications during the second delivery, doctors advised her that any future childbirth must be conducted through a cesarean section. When Zarifa went into labor with her third child, it was around 6:00 PM.  She was taken to the public hospital in Samangan, and tragically there were no doctors or midwives on duty at that time. In unbearable pain and with no medical assistance, Zarifa endured the entire night.

By the time the medical team arrived in the morning and took her to surgery, there were complications, and the seven-hour operation was extremely difficult. Following the surgery, Zarifa became incontinent.  A follow-up exam confirmed she had developed a condition known as obstetric fistula and would need another surgery, but not for at least three months.

The doctors said that if they could not fix it, they would refer her elsewhere. The news crushed Zarifa. She told the doctors she couldn’t afford treatment in a private or foreign hospital. Her husband is a public-school teacher, and his salary barely covers their basic needs. Desperate and worried, she pleaded to be treated in the same government hospital.

Fortunately, a specialist at the hospital wrote her a referral letter to Cure Hospital in Kabul. After three months, Zarifa arrived at Cure Hospital, the professional OBGYN and fistula team performed a successful surgery. 

For months, Zarifa lived in misery from the physical pain, along with severe emotional and psychological stress. The condition isolated her, brought her shame, and caused deep depression.  Sadly, the stress of Zarifa’s condition also affected her mother, whose heart condition worsened from the emotional pain, and she passed away. 

Zarifa expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the entire Cure Hospital (Be Team International) team, the fistula department, and the supporting organization that made her treatment possible. Her husband also sent a message of appreciation on behalf of the family. Even Zarifa’s distant relatives, upon hearing of her recovery, told her to never forget the kindness of the Cure team and to always thank them.Zarifa’s journey is not only a story of suffering, but also a powerful reminder of the difference that access to quality medical care can make in a woman’s life. Her strength and her healing are an inspiration.