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SCA in Nuristan

PRESS RELEASE
SCA in Nuristan

February 8, 2006

PRESS RELEASE - SCA in Nuristan

Nuristan province is an isolated mountainous province in Afghanistan with estimated population figure at about 300,000 inhabitants. This remote province has a complicated river system that divides the province into three valleys; Eastern and Central that are accessible through Kunar province and the Western that is accessible through Laghman Province.

Most of Nuristan Province becomes isolated during the wintertime for 3-6 months and completely inaccessible from the outside world. Nuristan represents an enormous challenge. In addition to the remoteness of the province, its difficult terrain and scatteredness of the population and security represents a concern to the implementing NGO’s.

The health status of the Nuristan population is very poor in addition to the health problems elsewhere in Afghanistan. Due to poor socio-economic conditions, lack of
adequate health care, insufficient health awareness, many authorities expect higher mortality rates in particular amongst women and children. Dr Ahmad Rahman, Senior Health Advisor, SCA comments: - Nuristan’s unique sets of
difficulties discourage many NGO’s of working there. SCA is committed to work with the poor and marginalized sectors of the Afghan population. Capitalizing on our long experiences and capacity, SCA will endeavour to extend the BPHS coverage in every district in Nuristan, through innovative approaches and well-designed interventions in which communities are fully involved.

SCA´s objectives for providing health services to the population of Nuristan province:

· To provide adequate coverage for the Nuristan population with the BPHS

· To provide high quality preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services in Nuristan province that focuses on women and children

· To ensure accessible health services to the people in remote and isolated areas

· To develop mechanisms to control tuberculosis as a major health problem in Nuristan

· To establish an efficient project management structure

· To build the capacity of provincial and the cluster health management structures

· To enhance the accessibility and the sustainability of the maternal health care services

· To establish community involvement structures

· To promote community initiatives and multi-sectoral development

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan recognises the challenges in this project and will strive to identify opportunities that can help in improving the quality of the services and providing sustainable solutions to the problems in Nuristan. This project is funded by the European Commission for 20 months (1st phase).

For more information about SCA activities in Nuristan, please contact:
Dr Ahmad El Rahman, Senior Health Advisor
Phone: +93 (0)7933002
Email: ahmed.rahman@sca.org.af