Title: Today in Afghanistan.

POPLINE Document Number: 195358

Source citation:

Global HealthLink, 2003 Mar-Apr;(120):[3] p..

Abstract:

Twenty-three years of war and conflict has largely destroyed Afghanistan's health infrastructure, making the health status of the country's men, women and children one of the worst in the world. Afghanistan's Deputy Minister of Public Health, Dr. Ferozudeen Feroz, visited the United States as part of a month-long tour of donor countries to promote the ministry's plans for rebuilding Afghanistan's health system. Dr. Feroz presented the preliminary results of the first nationwide survey of health infrastructure, the Afghanistan National Health Resources Assessment (ANHRA). He sat down with Management Sciences for Health's CEO, Dr. Ron O'Connor, for an exclusive interview about the current reality of the health care system, its challenges, and a hopeful future for the Afghan people. Q: What are the main health problems facing Afghans? A: There are many, of course, as in any developing country that is just emerging from two decades of war and conflict - especially diseases that affect children under five years, like acute respiratory infections and diarrhea, and those that affect all age groups, like TB and malaria. For these, we need inexpensive solutions like basic antibiotics, bednets to prevent malaria, and an expanded DOTS program to treat TB patients. Our particular concern is the health problems that affect mothers, such as complications from pregnancy. Our priority is to deal first with those problems where we can do something quickly, effectively and inexpensively. A good example is oral rehydration for treating diarrhea in children. Another is bringing down our maternal mortality rates - which are the highest in the world at 1,600 per 100,000 live births - through better capacity building, such as the training of community health care providers and midwives, more female staff in basic primary health care clinics, and more staff and equipment available to provide caesarean sections in hospitals. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Afghanistan
Community
Public Health
Obstacles
Program Development
Asia, Southern
Africa
Developing Countries
Residence Characteristics
Population Distribution
Geographic Factors
Population
Health
Organization and Administration
Programs