The Islamic Transitional Government of
Afghanistan
Ministry of Public Health
Health and Nutrition Sector Coordination Report
Reporting Period: 9-15 November 2002
Email to submit information for next week's newsletter: registry@afg.emro.who.int (mention in subject line:
“for weekly update on health sector”. Reports can also be requested through this address.)
Contents
Coordination
Sub-sectors
Regional overview
Missions to Afghanistan, international meetings/ training & workshops
Surveys and assessments
Calendar of forthcoming activities
Coordination
Program secretariat
Preparations underway for presentation of agency business plans, by UNICEF and WHO, and final
selection and rank ordering of TAPA submissions to the health and nutrition sector.
Sub-sectors
Primary Health Care
In order to expand PHC services to un-served populations in the villages, WHO sub-offices provided
technical and material support to eastern and southern regions to conduct training of community health
workers. The community-based health workers will be equipped with basic kits that is replenished every
six months. District health teams provide technical supervision and support to the community health
workers.
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EPI & Polio Eradication
The last phase of measles campaign is about to complete. There are some concerns about the adverse
effect of measles vaccination particularly Nahrin district under Baghlan Province. Four villages were
affected. A case control study was conducted to know the real situation and expecting the detailed report
soon. Team visited the affected areas and appropriate measures were taken case by case
Preparation for the December NID already started which will be held from 15-17th. We have received
most of the regional micro-plans and have started delivering NIDs logistics including vaccines. A joint
decision was made by MoPH/WHO and UNICEF that NIDs will not be implemented in those districts,
which will be inaccessible during that time.
Maternal and Child Health
Her Excellency The Minister of Health returned from an official trip to Iran sponsored by UNFPA. Her
Excellency had fruitful meeting with Iranian counterparts on RH, FP, HIV AIDs and PHC.
WHO carried out 2 days assessment of Indra Gandhi Children hospital. The purpose was to assess the
situation, which is affecting regular activities in the hospital as well as to provide necessary support for
improving Child Health Care services.
Further to the release of the maternal mortality study that was conducted by MoPH with support from
UNICEF and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in four provinces of Afghanistan, a number
of interviews were conducted with concerned officials. The final report continued to be distributed to
various stakeholders. A presentation in Dari language for Provincial Health Directors is scheduled to take
place on November 16th.
Nutrition
Emergency Feeding: Continued support to the ongoing feeding centres for vulnerable children and
women. Distribution plan of the blended food, as part of winterisation plan, started in Pasaband and
Taiwara districts of Ghor Province. About 32, 000 children under five will receive blended food fortified
with vitamins and minerals.
Breastfeeding and operational research: the 18 hours BFHI training continued as part of Baby Friendly
Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in Malalai Hospital.
Micronutrient: Preparatory work for the training workshop on micronutrients and survey methodologies
carried out. Meanwhile a nutrition survey in Kandahar and Zabul was conducted.
Mental health
The training course for clinical psychologists in mental health dept was closed on 12 Nov 2002. 20 Clinical
psychologists ( 10 women and 10 men) from mental health hospital participated in this course. The
purpose of the course was to improve the knowledge and skills of clinical psychologists on mental health
ESP communication skills and psychological interventions. Training included theory and practical
sessions. These psychologists are planned to work in community mental health centers (CMHC) that will
be established in Kabul city also in mental health hospital and addiction center.
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Water supply and sanitation
1-Fourth round of chlorination of water reservoirs and shallow well in Kabul City completed.
2- Implementation of latrines project in Kandahar City is going on.
3- Implementation of Kunduz water supply project in going on.
4- Dr. A .K. Alim member of CWS team attended in Tsukuba Asian Seminar on Agriculture Education in
Japan.
Health Promotion
WHO in collaboration with MoPH, UNICEF and UNFPA is in the inauguration process in commemoration
of World Aids Day and organizing a seminar to all Health professionals, Health workers and other relevant
sectors to raise the awareness of Aids.
Emergency preparedness and response
In last week we had 2 coordination meetings with MoPH EPR director. The main agenda was preparing
the schedule of the contents of the workshop. We could finalize the schedule and agreed the workshop
conducting date, which will be from 10 to 12 of December 2002.
The other issue was working on Mission report to Badakhshan together with MoPH relevant staff.
Overview of Geographic Areas
Central Area
Meeting with directors of provincial Public Health directorate of Logar, Kapisa and Parwan provinces to
finalize the establishment of temporary clinics for winterization in isolated areas
Preparation of December NIDs with review of micro-plans, training of trainers and of coordinators,
preparation of social mobilization
One AFP case has been detected this week from Pulialam district of Logar province and dispatched in a
good condition to Islamabad, referral lab.
Northern Area, Mazar
New WHO EPI Polio officer arrived in Mazar this week for the supervision and management EPI/Polio
activities in this area.
Mission to Faryab for the supervision of malaria/leishmania program in the province
.
Kunduz
For the chloroquine efficacy study in P.F malaria, 106 patients in Khanabad district are already under the
survey.
On going rehabilitation of water supply system in Kunduz town.
Microplannification of 3rd round NIDs is under process.
Faizabad
Under the BDN program, 100 MT of wheat seed were provided to 1300 families of Yaftal district.
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Under the Faizabad water supply rehabilitation project, spring boxes and lines between them and the
reservoir are under repair.
Health partners are working on a project proposal for improving health conditions in Darwaz district after
the result of the assessment team on the suspected whooping cough outbreak. The project would propose
establishment of health centers, opening of EPI fixed centers and nutrition programs in the district. A
doctor from AKDN staid on the ground after the assessment mission held two weeks ago. He mentioned
that the disease seems to spread to Shukai Sub-district of Darwaz, an additional mission will go to assess
the situation in this area.
Southern Area, Kandahar
Training course for the Nomads OPV campaigns and training for next NIDs in Nimroz, Panjwai and
Urozgan.
Western area, Herat
Training of 25 TBAs in Enjil District.
Small increase of the number of ARI cases in IDPs camps.
Malaria prevalence survey completed in Chaghcharan, Taiwara, Porchaman, Adreskan and Enjil district of
western area.
Meetings & workshops

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
November 4, 10:00: NTCC at the library of MoPH
November 9, 10, 9:00: Presentation of Preliminary results of health facility survey at the library of
the MOPH
November 18-20, 2002: National planning workshop at the library of the MoPH
Calendar of forthcoming activities

December 15 to 17, 2002. Third round of NIDs.
Other information:
Visit of Dr Magoub from EMRO Health system development unit for one week in Afghanistan
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For more information:
WHO Afghanistan Office
House No. 249, Street No. 10
Wazir Akbar Khan Mina
Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: (0093) 70279010/1-2
Digital lines : 2300181/2
E-mail : registry@afg.emro.who.int
Fax No : 0047 233 08112 2207
WHO Afghanistan Support Office
P. O. Box No. 1936
House 218, Margalla Road, F-10/3
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: (92 51) 221 1224, 2104770.4
Fax: (92 51) 228 0830
E-mail: supply@whoafg.org
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