After years of relentless efforts, UNICEF has successfully prevented the collapse of two-thirds of Afghanistan’s healthcare system. The initiative, primarily focused on rural areas, has been monumental, employing 28,000 full-time healthcare workers and physicians, alongside 32,000 volunteers. Together, they manage 96 fully equipped hospitals and 2,400 rural healthcare centers, some of which are as modest as a single room. Despite their size, these facilities have made a significant impact, particularly for vaccinations, childbirth, and routine checkups, while also fostering better medical practices among rural populations traditionally resistant to change.
UNICEF stepped in after Afghanistan’s medical system collapsed in 2021, sustaining critical healthcare services despite severe financial constraints, as no funds can be transferred into the country’s financial institutions. Since the program’s inception, 2.2 million babies have been born in UNICEF-supported facilities, marking a 20% increase since 2019.
Afghanistan’s rugged terrain, shaped by 40 years of war, poses immense challenges for both healthcare providers and recipients. In remote regions like Nuristan and Ghor, families live in terraced villages along valley sides, often requiring hours of hiking to access clinics. The 32,000 volunteers bridge this gap, delivering essential medical services to these isolated communities and demonstrating the value of modern medicine to skeptical populations.
UNICEF has shared stories of lives transformed through these efforts. For instance, Safina’s village now has a health post that assisted her in delivering three children, while Roqia, a two-year-old diagnosed with polio, was carried by her grandfather over treacherous mountain paths to receive life-saving care after being advised by a UNICEF community health worker. These firsthand experiences are pivotal in encouraging others, particularly men, who are often reluctant to seek medical care for minor issues. In rural settings, however, minor ailments can quickly escalate, making the role of community health workers critical in promoting early intervention and preventive care.
Today, more than half of Afghanistan’s population benefits from basic medical services through UNICEF-supported programs, with three-quarters receiving hospital-level care, primarily for women and children.