Making a Difference in Afghanistan

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Working together, the Government of Finland and Marie Stopes International (MSI) have been helping to change the face of sexual & reproductive health (SRH) services and information in Afghanistan.

With funding from Finland and utilising MSI’s own resources, MSI Afghanistan has combined advocacy and communication initiatives with service delivery. As a result, the programme is reaching hundreds of thousands Afghani people and much more effectively than if just clinical services alone were provided.

This support has enabled MSI to develop its programme in Afghanistan into a significant, multi-faceted and successful programme which now provides nearly 12 % of the current contraceptive market in Afghanistan.

Key priorities

At the centre of MSI Afghanistan’s work are three key priorities: 

• Supporting the Government of Afghanistan in building a post-conflict health system
• Promoting the sexual and reproductive health rights of poor Afghan families 
• Contributing to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of improving maternal health, combating HIV, reducing infant mortality

Originally established in 2002, MSI Afghanistan now provides quality sexual & reproductive health services and information through 15 clinics, 2 mobile units and 52 community based health workers. To date, nearly half a million people have benefited from information and services covering family planning, maternal & child health and safe post abortion care, HIV / STIs amongst other areas.

Information is provided in a variety of ways, from booklets and leaflets, T.V and radio educational dramas through to outdoor advertising, school visits and door to door visits.

The team in Afghanistan have also been using social marketing to expand access to contraception and ensure the on-going availability of contraceptive products. The Aramish range now includes condoms, pills, injections and intrauterine devices and the team is on target to sell 1 million condoms this year.

As well as its own services and information, MSI supports the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health to provide a standardised package of health services. These form the core of services in all primary health care facilities.

Key achievements

• Directly provided SRH services to nearly half a million Afghani people; the vast majority of whom have been poor women, men and children. In 2006 alone, MSI reached 150,000 people; a 600% increase over the number reached in 2003
• Trained over 1,000 health professionals from the public, private and NGO sectors
• Reached more than 182,000 women through household visits by MSI community outreach teams. As well as providing high-quality health information the outreach teams increase awareness of reproductive health rights

What makes MSI Afghanistan unique?

• MSI is passionate about providing choice to women concerning their reproductive health. While other organisations have left Afghanistan in recent years due to violence and instability, MSI is there to stay
• In a country with the world’s highest maternal mortality rate, MSI is the only non government organisation providing sexual and reproductive health services directly to women and young girls, particularly outside Kabul
• MSI’s role in influencing policy could not currently be filled by any other INGO or NGO in Afghanistan
• MSI works in a cross cutting, multi-sectoral manner and has formed a range of broad partnerships- for example, most NGOs are just contracted by one ministry whereas MSI Afghanistan works with three different Ministries -- Women’s Affairs, Education and Religious Affairs - to promote gender equality and awareness of reproductive health issues.

There are on-going challenges working in Afghanistan, including of course security issues, but the MSI team is confident that with continued support those challenges can be met head on.