Integrated primary healthcare services in Kandahar and Hilmand
The aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality among the most vulnerable people of all genders and diversities in underserved areas. Five basic health centers are established to serve 52,811 people in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. The project it funded by OCHA from Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) for 12 months.
The “Integrated primary healthcare services in Kandahar and Hilmand” project is developed in line with 2025 1st Reserve Allocation Outcome: scale-up delivery of humanitarian assistance in underserved areas with high needs.
The project contributes to the Health Strategic Objective (SO1); Reduce morbidity and mortality among the most vulnerable people of all genders and diversities. The activity ensures access to integrated primary healthcare services, including reproductive health, MHPSS, and nutrition, in underserved areas through the establishment of new health facilities.
The strategic focus is enhanced access of humanitarian health assistance in underserved areas.
Geographical locations: 5 basic health centers (BHC) are established in prioritized districts of Hilmand and Kandahar provinces (Arghandab, Kajaki, Musa Qalla and Shorabak) that do not have access to health services.
The main activities are:
- Inception; singing MOU, orientation for the stakeholders, BHCs establishment, staffing, equipping, supply and renovations.
- Capacity building; orientations/short training for health care workers (including PSEA and AAP).
- PHC services including reproductive health, MHPSS and non-communicable diseases.
- Community health committees (Shuras); for each BHC to facilitate the services and accountability to the affected people (AAP).
- Communication, information sharing and coordination to improve delivery of health care services to vulnerable population.
- Women friendly provision of the services.
- Monitor the health facilities on monthly basis and report to health cluster report-hub.
The services based on BPHS guidelines include:
- Provision of medicines and medical supplies.
- Training of health care workers for the services to be provided.
- Reproductive health; maternal, new born and child health service.
- Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in the health facilities.
- Nutrition; minimal nutrition services for under five children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW).
- Immunization; vaccination for under 2 children and child bearing age women.
- Establish links with BPHS health facilities for referral of complicated cases.
- Infectious disease outbreak response.
- Care of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Persons with disabilities; referral to specialized centers and provision of simple assistive devices, if budget secured.
- Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities – for disease outbreaks and natural disasters –floods.
Estimated direct beneficiaries are 52,765 including 8,442 persons with disabilities in the villages and 46 project staff with 100% involvement in the services (total direct beneficiaries 52,811).
The primary health care teams (PHC) will have properly trained staff, required equipment, medical and non-medical supplies, means of access for persons with disability and transportation for referral. Each health team will have a doctor/nurse, a female midwife, a nutrition nurse, a psychosocial counselor, two vaccinators and two guard/cleaners.
Community health Shuras with at least one member with disability, play key role for AAP; including access, security measures, raising the needs, monitoring and complaint redress.
The project is designed to contributes to gender equality. Data and information will be segregated by sex, age and having disability to ensure a good analysis of outputs and outcomes based on vulnerability aspects.