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More than two decades of conflict in Afghanistan have resulted in poverty, high levels of mortality and a severely damaged public health infrastructure. Many communities live without access to safe drinking water or basic levels of sanitation.
The community-based health programme is a five-year plan to improve the health practices in the districts of Shortepa, Khulm and Balkh in Balkh province. Communities in these districts are identified by the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health as having significant health needs.
Health problems
Common health problems afflicting people include, anaemia, malnutrition and drug use. In addition, there are seasonal diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, malaria and pneumonia. Very few households have traditional latrines and there is little evidence of hygiene practice, such as washing of hands.
The community-based health programme improves the environment of the community, both reducing demand on clinics and complementing their activities. It began in 2008 and reaches 8,000 people through health activities, including:
• water and sanitation
• health and hygiene promotion
• curative and preventative health services.
Lifeline to health services
The static and mobile health centres also provide basic healthcare services to local people. Health workers in the centres have received training in maternal and child health. The Afghanistan Red Crescent Society is also training volunteers in hygiene promotion and first aid. It is encouraging women to participate in the training as well as in the community groups formed to help identify local needs.
The British Red Cross is supporting the community-based health programme and has supported both the mobile and static health centres since 2004, including the current plan to further improve the quality of services provided by the static units.
With security deteriorating daily and a continuation of armed conflict, the services provided by these programmes are a lifeline for a population lacking access to basic health services.
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