AID grant no. 306-0211-A-00-1214-00 to Mercy Corps International to implement and improve the delivery of health services through MCI"s 39 health posts, clinics and small hospitals located throughout south and southwest Afghanistan

The program, which operates at 39 health posts, clinics, and small hospitals in 8 provinces in south and southwest Afghanistan, comprises both training and health care delivery. Focus during the grant period will be on increasing cost recovery, expanding maternal/child health services, and ensuring an expeditious transition from the existing program, which is run out of Quetta, Pakistan, to an Afghanistan-based program. Health facility staff will be upgraded through refresher training in collaboration with other health entities. As part of the newly formed training consortium for mid-level workers, MCI will contribute to the Combined Continuing Education Program (CCEP) and will conduct training courses using curricula and schedules established by the core group. Assuming the availability of vaccines from non-USAID sources, an Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) will be added to the community health care program. Also, MCH services and training of MCH workers will commence. MCI will add one new facility in the Hazarajat (a woman-staffed MCH facility) and will establish MCH wings in six existing facilities. Revenue-generating activities will be instituted at all facilities. Finally, MCI will conduct management seminars for selected Afghan staff and will continue efforts to "Afghanize" its staff so as to assure an expeditious move from Quetta into Afghanistan. A plan to form an Afghan NGO to operate MCI facilities will be prepared and submitted to USAID.