AMI in Afghanistan

Objective

Set up essential health services for vulnerable populations in five provinces.

Context

On 18th September 2005 the first legislative elections were held for more than thirty years, a new stage in the reconstruction process of the country. However, the increasing number of acts of rebellion and demonstrations against international forces continue to threaten the stabilization of the country as the government still has little authority over the country. Security troubles [targeted attacks against NGOs, confusion between military and humanitarian interventions] hamper the implementation of humanitarian programs, and expatriates can still hardly reach some areas [Kunar and Laghman]. However, the action of medical NGOs is supported by the fact that the reconstruction of the health system is now one of the five priorities of the government. AMI’s programs thus answer the goal of reconstruction of the country defined by the new national health policy.

Program: reconstructing the health system

As part of its program supporting the development of the health system in five provinces, AMI provides primary health care and helps improve health care access for all the population, without any discrimination, according to the standards set up by the Afghan Ministry of Health [MOH]. This medium to long-term program aims at rebuilding and reorganizing the whole health system of the country at provincial level. In this respect, AMI’s teams work together with the MOH on three different levels:

• Ministry: advanced training of medical staff, monitoring and management
• Health structures: recruiting process, training of staff, supply of medicine, building and running the structures
• Communities: training of community health agents AMI focuses its activities on the following areas: consultations and hospitalizations in dispensaries and hospitals, cross-programs [vaccination, nutrition, mother and child health, tuberculosis], laboratory analyses and health education.

Results

In 2005, AMI supported:

• 550 health posts [providing basic health care information to populations]
• 33 basic health centers
• 14 comprehensive health centers
• 5 district hospitals [hospital services]
• 18 dispensary and hospital laboratories in Kabul and rural areas
• The training of 1,100 community health agents

Program: supporting laboratory activities

AMI’s teams support Afghan laboratories through the training of lab technicians and the supply of medical consumables and equipment. AMI also coordinates and technically supports the Afghan Ministry of Health, especially in implementing quality standards related to the creation of a laboratory health policy.

Results

• In 2005, AMI supported four laboratories in Kabul

Program: Salamati-Health Messenger See article dedicated to this program.

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Project definition in Afghanistan

Localization

• East: Laghman and Kunar provinces • North: Samangan province • Center: Logar and Kabul provinces

Beneficiaries

Indirect beneficiaries: 922,000 people AMI brings assistance to vulnerable populations [refugees, displaced people, women, children, minorities] in 18 districts and 5 provinces. Women of child-bearing age [15-45 years old] and children from 0 to 5 years old are the main target of our activities.

AMI’s team on the project

• 18 expatriates: head of mission, administrators, logistics coordinator, medical coordinator, laboratory manager, medical referents, logisticians, doctors, nurses, etc. • 900 local staff: doctors, nurses, midwives, lab technicians, administrators, logisticians, etc.

Sources of Funds

Europaid [European Union], World Bank [via the Afghan Ministry of Health], French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Development Agency [AFD], People In Need Fund [PINF], German cooperation agency [GTZ], Dutch cooperation agency, United Nations Population Fund [UNFPA]

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Health Messenger magazine in Afghanistan : Salamati

Afghanistan – “Salamati” [“good health” in Dari language]

Since 1994, the medical magazine Salamati has been offering professional training to Afghan health agents. In 2005, four issues were published on the following topics: HIV/AIDS and STDs, child health, transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis.

Localization

Writing in Kabul and distribution all over Afghanistan.

Circulation

10,000 copies distributed in 34 provinces of Afghanistan, among which 9,000 copies written in both official languages, Dari and Pashto, and 1,000 copies in English.

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries: between 30,000 and 40,000 professionals [health agents, medical students, NGO staff], but one copy of the magazine is usually read by three to four people. Indirect beneficiaries: all the Afghan population will benefit from improved health care.

AMI’s team on the project

1 expatriate: project coordinator. 2 local staff: 1 chief / medical editor, 1 distribution manager. Sources of funds Netherlands Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA], German cooperation agency [GTZ], HealthNet TPO, Global Fund.

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