Dutch Consortium Uruzgan

Afghans living outside Uruzgan province tend to view Uruzgan as a dangerous, conservative and isolated province. Due to very low media coverage of Uruzgan, this perception is based on limited information which does not present a comprehensive picture. There has for example been a rapid change in women’s participation across several areas. Two years ago, women were hardly seen participating in the daily life of the city whereas now women can walk on the streets and buy goods in the market. Many women are participating in some kind of development activity, such as literacy courses and vocational training, etc.

These positive changes in the life of women aside, there are still many challenges facing both the women and the NGOs working in Uruzgan. The fact remains that Uruzgan has been underserved by the central administration for many years. Health facilities, the educational system and the provincial administration have been neglected for a long time and as a result the province ranks amongst the poorest of all provinces in Afghanistan. The DCU focuses on the rehabilitation of the region through a multi sectorial approach. Every organization has its own specialty, such as agriculture, education, sanitation, animal husbandry and environment.

HealthNet TPO is responsible for the health component, in which four key issues are addressed:

• To extend and develop the paramedic staff: HealthNet TPO has initiated a long-term training programme for three new groups (community nurses, community laboratory technicians, and community pharmacy technicians). In 2010, a two-year training course started in Uruzgan for 20 female nurses, 10 laboratory students and 15 pharmacy students. These students will complete their training in 2011. The diploma will be certified by the Ministry of Public Health, which means the curriculum has received national accreditation. Also master trainers were educated to ensure the training programme will be continued and become sustainable.
• To support the psychiatric department of the local hospital in Tarin Kowt: staff of the psychiatric department receives training in recognizing and treating mental and psychosocial problems. Also physicians, nurses, midwives and general practitioners outside the hospital received a basic training in mental health, which resulted in increased awareness for potential mental problems and an active referral system.
• To create awareness for psychosocial issues: not only psychiatric, but also psychosocial problems need to be addressed. Within the community key figures (village elders, women, teachers, etc.) are trained in the recognition of psychosocial problems. How can they help? And where do they need to refer people to?
• To involve private clinics in inaccessible areas into the public health care and increasing quality of service delivery: 60 private service providers were trained, to equip them to provide immunization and basic reproductive health services. Since then, many children received their vaccinations and more and more pregnant women and mothers find their way to the health centres.