Health

  • Impunity Must End: Attacks on Health in 23 Countries in Conflict in 2016

    In 2016, attacks on—or interference with—health care occurred in 23 countries in conflict or experiencing political unrest around the world, including Afghanistan.  The sheer number of countries and the intensity of attacks on health facilities, health workers, ambulances, and patients are staggering. International law requires hospitals, clinics, and ambulances to be places of safety, yet health facilities are too often among the most dangerous places in communities.

    PDF icon 1493864902969.pdf
  • Afghanistan: Demographic and Health Survey, January 2017

    The Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey (AfDHS) 2015 is the first survey of its kind to be implemented in Afghanistan as part of the worldwide Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. It was implemented by the joint effort of the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), with the objective of providing reliable, accurate, and up-todate data for the country. This report presents comprehensive, final outcomes of the findings of the survey. Readers will find the information useful for program planning and evaluation.

    PDF icon FR323.pdf
  • Emergency NGO: Brussels Conference on Afghanistan Position Paper, September 2016

    Ahead of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, Emergency NGO has published a position paper aimed at the Afghan government and the international community. It highlights how a context of worsening security has led to an increase in attacks on health facilities, with far-reaching negative repercussions for personnel, infrastructure and local populations. In light of this context, they call for: the set-up of local peacebuilding mechanisms, adherence to international humanitarian law, allocation of adequate financial resources to health care, revising the model of humanitarian intervention, and greater protection for humanitarian workers. 

    PDF icon Emergency BCA Position paper.pdf
  • OCHA: Humanitarian Bulletin - Child Malnutrition, July 2016

    In their regular Humanitarian Bulletin, UN OCHA present the stark facts about child malnutrition, Afghanistan's 'silent killer'. The Afghanistan Nutrition Cluster estimates 2.7 million people are affected by malnutrition including one million children under five with an acute state of malnutrition in need of treatment. While rarely cited as a leading cause, malnutrition is the hidden contributing factor in about 45 per cent of all child deaths.

    PDF icon OCHA hum bulletin malnutrition_july_2016.pdf
  • MOPH: Vulnerability to Corruption in the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, June 2016

    This Special Report was undertaken by the Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC) at the request of the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Ferozudin Feroz. The report assesses the extent of corruption risks in the Afghan health system; identifies where these vulnerabilities exist; and draws important lessons and makes recommendations on how to counter corruption risks. Dealing with corruption in the health system could do more to improve the health of the nation than any other single factor.

    PDF icon MOPH_Special_Report_vulnerability corruption(English).pdf
  • Samuel Hall: Urban Displaced Youth in Kabul - Mental Health Matters, June 2016

    Youth and their households may not be well versed in the requirements of Afghan cities. They may not have the contacts or networks to secure jobs. As this three-part study reveals, youth mainly turn to community leaders and religious leaders for advice, as they consider their parents ill-equipped to support them. This study reveals the invisible trauma of conflict on the young generation, the geographic boundaries and borders within a city that divides neighbourhoods and limits options offered to youth, the marginalization and isolation of the displaced youth in particular who suffer from mental health needs that are now increasingly being voiced, and the rise of criminality and urban insecurity that make all – especially female youth – insecure.

    PDF icon Samuel Hall UDY-Chapter-1-Mental-Health.pdf
  • UNAMA: Education & Healthcare at risk, April 2016

    Children in Afghanistan increasingly struggle to access healthcare and education. Jointly produced by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UNICEF, this report documents how conflict-related violence, threats and intimidation by all parties to the conflict harmed health and education personnel, reduced the availability of healthcare, and limited children’s access to essential health and education services. The report covers the three-year period, 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015.

    PDF icon UNAMA education_and_healthcare_at_risk Apr16.pdf
  • AREU: The Political Economy of Education & Health Service Delivery, February 2016

    Political settlements affect service delivery in Afghanistan, according to this AREU research study examining the health and education sectors of Afghanistan. This study tested the hypothesis that the character of political settlements at various levels (primary, secondary, and sectoral) may partly explain the varying delivery outcomes across the country. The study first assesses interference with service delivery by insurgents and local strongmen, finding largely affirmative responses in this respect, and then examines the variations in secondary settlements in the three provincial case studies. Finally, the study explores how local elites and government officials attempt to manage and control service delivery for their own ends.

    PDF icon AREU The Political Economy of Education and Health Service Delivery in Afghanistan.pdf
  • AREU: Household Water Insecurity, December 2015

    Some recent WHO/UNICEF reports have indicated that the MDG for access to safe drinking water has been achieved in Afghanistan, far ahead of schedule. This discussion paper by AREU  suggests that such claims should be taken with great caution. The paper identifies a number of issues regarding how progress towards the MDG on ‘sustainable access to safe drinking water’ has been established for Afghanistan. These issues include inflated data (as found in influential reports from the WHO/UNICEF), methodological discrepancies between different national surveys, biased trend assessments, and unrealistic assumptions about the long-term sustainability of existing water systems.Based on the key points brought to light, the paper suggests a number of policy recommendations.

    PDF icon AREU Household Water Insecurity.pdf
  • HealthProm/BAAG: Maternal mortality reported trends in Afghanistan: too good to be true?, December 2015

    BAAG member HealthProm have written this paper jointly with BAAG and 3 leading maternal health experts. It raises their concerns regarding statements that Afghanistan has achieved MDG5a, to reduce maternal mortality by 75%. The paper asserts that such claims are too good to be true, and points to problematic survey methodologies which may have led to inaccurate figures. With overall funding reductions to Afghanistan, there is a fear that donors may cut health funding, putting more Afghan mother's lives at risk. 

    PDF icon Maternal Mortality rates in Afghanistan too good to be true 26Nov Final.pdf
  • BAAG: Policy position paper on Service Delivery, July 2015

    Following the General Election in May 2015, BAAG and its members prepared a briefing pack for MPs and ministers.  These covered the themes of Governance, Human Rights, Service Delivery, Women's Rights and Humanitarian.  They each present an overview of the progress and remaining challenges in each area, and priority recommendations for the British government to consider in its support to Afghanistan. 

    PDF icon Policy Position Paper - Service Delivery final version 22July15.pdf
  • HRW: Attacks on Health, May 2015

    The second joint global report by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition and Human Rights Watch documents attacks on, and interference with, health workers, patients, facilities, and transports during periods of armed conflict or political violence.  Afghanistan, with Syria and Iraq, is one of the highest risk countries. From 1st January to 15th August 2014, 41 incidents were reported where hospitals, clinics, and health personnel were attacked.  Afghans have been denied access to services temporarily or permanently because of conflict near health facilities.  Additionally, patients have been harrassed at checkpoints as they try to reach hospitals and clinics. 

    PDF icon HRW Attacks on Hospitals 0515.pdf
  • CSJWG: Position Paper for London Conference, November 2014

    Ahead of the London Conference on Afghanistan, the Civil Society Joint Working Group (CSJWG), a membership network of local, community and grass-roots Afghan civil society organisations, prepared the paper below.  It highlights their review of the current situation, past achievements and future needs in the following thematic sections: Democratic reform; Governance, Rule of law and Human Rights; Government revenues, Budget execution and Sub-national Governance; Economic growth and Development; Continued partnership and Aid effectiveness; the Role of civil society.  

    PDF icon Civil-society-position-paper-london-conf-23Nov2014.pdf
  • ACBAR: Transforming development beyond Transition, October 2014

    BAAG's partner in Afghanistan, ACBAR, have produced 4 thematic and 1 summary position paper for the London Conference on Afghanistan, on 4th December.  These papers reflect the progress made since their previous papers for the Tokyo conference in 2012, and highlight the continuing needs, challenges and recommendations.  Their papers are on Women's Rights, Aid Effectiveness, Service Delivery and Governance.  

    PDF icon Transforming Development Beyond Transition in Afghanistan AID EFFECTIVENESS.pdf, PDF icon Transforming Development Beyond Transition in Afghanistan GOVERNANCE.pdf, PDF icon Transforming Development Beyond Transition in Afghanistan SERVICE.pdf, PDF icon Transforming Development Beyond Transition in Afghanistan Womens Rights.pdf, PDF icon Transforming Development Beyond Transition in Afghanistan SUMMARY.pdf
  • VCA Report on Pharmaceuticals importation process, October 2014

    With no registration or monitoring of pharmaceutical companies in many Afghan provinces, and a strong trade in smuggled counterfeit drugs, many Afghans face agonising choices when they require medical treatment.  Afghanistan's Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee prepared this Vulnerability to Corruption Assessment (VCA) which found that generally corruption in the pharmaceutical importation process is facilitated and perpetuated by a combination of high import volume and low surveillance and monitoring capacity.

    PDF icon 2014_11_19_Pharmaceutical_VCA_ENGLISH.pdf

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