From training health providers and introducing health systems to funding NGO delivery of health services, REACH is making a difference in Afghanistan—and making the news!

REACH Results in Afghanistan Shared at Global Health Conference
Kabul, June 18, 2006
A team of international health professionals from Management Sciences for Health (MSH) presented results achieved in post-conflict Afghanistan through the USAID-funded and MSH-operated Rural Expansion of Afghanistan's Community-based Healthcare (REACH) Program at the annual Global Health Council Conference in Washington, DC.

Newly Graduated Kabul Midwives Deployed to Tackle Maternal Mortality in Afghanistan
Kabul, May 10, 2006
In Afghanistan, a woman dies of pregnancy-related causes every 20 minutes; and approximately 60 out of every 1000 newborns die in the first month of life. However, on May 10th, 94 Afghan women marked the completion of a 2 year midwifery training program with a graduation ceremony in Kabul.

Delegates of Six Countries Sign Kabul Declaration on Regional Collaboration in Health
This press release was issued by the Islamic State of Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health
Kabul, April 20, 2006
With assistance from MSH/REACH, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health sponsors a successful Regional Health Conference "Health for All, Health by All: Communicable Diseases Recognize No Borders" concluding with the signing of the Kabul Declaration on Regional Collaboration in Health.

The Essential Package of Hospital Services: A Milestone in the Development of the Afghan Health Care System
Kabul, February 23, 2006
With the formal adoption of the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS), the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health has provided the framework for Afghanistan's hospital system and defined the role of the country's district, provincial and regional hospitals.

Afghan NGO Receives REACH Grant to Support Badakhshan Provincial Hospital
Kabul, January 16, 2006
REACH awarded Care for Afghan Families (CAF), an Afghan NGO, a grant to deliver the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) at the Badakhshan Provincial Hospital, one of five provincial hospitals supported by USAID. The award will enable the grantee to improve the quality of the provincial hospital's services and management as well as increase the capacity of the Badakhshan Provincial Health Department.

Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health Issues Certificate of Appreciation to MSH for Work in Herat Province
Kabul, December 21, 2005
The Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Directorate of Public Health of Herat province have jointly issued an official Certificate of Appreciation to Management Sciences for Health (MSH) for its contribution to improving the quality of health services being delivered in the country's western province of Herat.

REACH Success in Measuring Afghanistan's Public Health Progress Told at American Public Health Association's 133rd Annual Meeting
Kabul, December 14, 2005
In a poster session held December 14 in Philadelphia at the American Public Health Association's 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition, Dr. Omid Ameli, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for the USAID-funded Rural Expansion of Afghanistan's Community-based Healthcare Program (REACH), explained the introduction and use of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) to measure progress made by REACH NGO grant recipients in delivering a basic package of health care in 110 districts of 14 Afghan provinces.

Afghan Minister of Public Health Visits Washington, D.C., Meets with Officials
This press release was issued by the Islamic State of Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health
Kabul, September 13, 2005
Dr. Mohammad Amin Fatimie, Minister of Public Health, has returned to Kabul following a two-week series of meetings in Washington, DC with officials of the US government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He was accompanied on the August 27—September 9 visit by Dr. Faizullah Kakar, Deputy Minister, and Dr. Ahmed Shah Salehi, Head of External Relations.

New Radio Spots Create Drama around Health in Afghanistan: REACH works with public health officials to spread the word about health care
Kabul, August 31, 2005
Despite high illiteracy rates in most of rural Afghanistan, Afghan families are keeping abreast of the news through the country's most popular medium: radio. Surveys show that in some rural provinces, 75% to 90% of all households are listening, spurring public health officials to take a creative approach to communicating messages about health care.

Afghan Landmine Victims Find Hope in Kabul Rehab Clinic
Kabul, August 31, 2005
Four months ago, while cutting across a field after leaving his job at a bakery on the outskirts of Kabul, Malik stepped on something hidden in the high grass. The explosion was instantaneous, and in that moment, the 17-year-old lost both his legs. But the horror was not over. As he crawled toward help, a second landmine blasted his arms and torso, mangling them

Gender training in Afghanistan brings new meaning to traditional roles and definitions
Kabul, August 31, 2005
More than 20 men and women gathered in a classroom for three days in August to discuss and debate a new concept in Afghan culture: gender.

Rural Clinic in Afghanistan Reopens after Doctor Slain by Taliban While Treating Patients
Kabul, August 24, 2005
A clinic in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan has reopened after a doctor who was a longtime supporter of educating Afghan girls was shot and killed there earlier this month, the victim of a targeted shooting by the Taliban.

Inaugural Congress of Afghan Midwives Held In Kabul
Kabul, May 5, 2005
More than 200 women attended the Inaugural Congress of the Afghan Midwives Association, where the Association announced its mission: to bring "health and peace to the families of Afghanistan" through promoting and strengthening the midwifery profession and the role of the midwife.

First Class of Afghan Midwifes Graduates
Kabul, April 13, 2005
For years Afghanistan has suffered from one of the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. But now a new generation of midwives, the first ever to undergo a full two-year professional training, is about to enter the Afghan work force.

Ministry of Health and USAID Award Four Midwifery Education Grants in Afghanistan
Kabul, April 17, 2004
NGO's in Herat, Nangahar, Balkh, and Kabul Provinces receive the first of 3.5 million in grants to reduce maternal mortality in Afghanistan through midwifery training

Ministries Launch Cooperative Health-focused Literacy Program in Afghanistan
Kabul, February 17, 2004
The Ministries of Education, Health, and Women's Affairs and USAID/REACH initiate $4.3M "Learning for Life" program to qualify rural women for training as health workers and midwives

Local Afghan Organization Awarded Grant to Expand Health Services
Kabul, July 9, 2002
Ministry of Health announces a new performance-based approach for partnership agreements with local Afghan and international organizations

Afghanistan's Ministry of Health Opens Surveyor Training
Kabul, June 24, 2002
Minister's speech speech highlights the importance of Afghanistan national health assessment

Management Sciences for Health to Provide Critical Health Services to Afghan Women and Children
Boston, MA, April 9, 2002