Lal-wa-Sarjangal, Tue 05 May, 2009

On 31 May 2009, HCHP was handed over to an Afghan NGO, CHA (http://www.cha-net.org).

In addition, the services at the BHCs were expanded to include full fixed and outreach vaccine services and community health worker supervision. The CHC+ had two permanent Afghan doctors who were Family Medicine Specialists. It also had at least one female expatriate doctor throughout the year.

HCHP hosted several other specialists, including a general surgeon, an ophthalmic surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, and two pediatricians, all of whom stayed from one week to two months in order to assist and train in their specialties. In November, eight assistant nurses graduated from HCHP’s job-focused nurse training program. Five vaccinators and fi ve community health supervisors also graduated, having completed a four month nursing theory course followed by eight months of job-specific training in the field. Nine existing nurses took the government nursing exam. Refresher courses of four to six weeks were given to all of the 314 community health workers.

In addition to implementing the BPHS, HCHP has also been involved in small scale community development. In the past this involved literacy training, veterinary training, and latrine and well building. In 2008, the work was primarily supervisory and an evaluation was carried out to assess the overall eff ectiveness of this part of the project. The evaluation recommended separating the community development work from the healthcare work in order to allow those working in community development to fully focus on it. This recommendation was consistent with the guidance of IAM leadership. The separation occurred in October of 2008, but the two projects continue to work in close collaboration. HCHP would like to thank GBGM, FLOM, Interact, FMF, Tear Fund Switzerland, UNICEF, and MFA Norway for their support in 2008.