Emerging from years of conflict, Afghanistan currently registers some of the worst health statistics in the world, especially among women and children. Despite this fact, past projects and current work in country have demonstrated the tremendous spirit of the Afghan people to unite around the issue of health. Building on USAID’s successful REACH Project, completed in 2006, LMS is working to strengthen the leadership and management of the Ministry of Public Health at the central and provincial levels by strengthening their institutional capacity and human resource management as well as ensuring reliable access to pharmaceuticals throughout the 13 focus provinces.

EXPERIENCE IN COUNTRY

• Technical Support to the Central and Provincial Ministry of Public Health (Tech-Serve) Project
• REACH
  

Technical Support to the Central and Provincial Ministry of Public Health (Tech-Serve) Project

Tech-Serve works with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) at the central and provincial level to build its capacity to perform its primary function of guiding the health system by establishing national health objectives that address national health priorities while ensuring equity and fostering sustainability. Tech-Serve provides ongoing technical assistance in key public health technical areas and engages both central and provincial managers in developing their management and leadership skills to focus on health results and accountability. The Tech-Serve Management support for Provinces (MSP) initiative works directly with provincial health directors an their teams to effectively articulate their health priorities, strategies to address health needs, to plan, implement the strategies an to monitor their activities. This project was launched in July 2006 by Management Sciences for Health under an Associate Cooperative Agreements.

• From Egypt to Afghanistan: Leadership Development Exchange

REACH

In May 2003 MSH was awarded a three-year contract by USAID to improve access to basic health services and to strengthen Afghanistan's health systems. REACH accomplished astonishing results during the four years of the program. USAID, the MOPH and REACH worked hand in hand to develop functional health services in 13 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. Hurdles such as a shortage of trained female health care workers and limited access to health facilities for consistent drug therapy were just some of the challenges addressed by the REACH program. The REACH program ensured that an estimated 7.1 million people throughout Afghanistan have access to a basic package of health services and focused on the delivery of crucial health services.