This project represents CIDA’s contribution to the World Bank’s Strengthening Health Activities for the Rural Poor project (SHARP). SHARP is helping to improve basic health services for people who live in rural areas of Afghanistan, with a focus on services for women and children. SHARP provides support to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) for the implementation of the country’s Health and Nutrition Sector Strategy. It aims to help expand the delivery of basic health services to rural populations, particularly women and children; increase access to essential hospital services in rural areas; improve communication and coordination between central MoPH offices and provincial health offices; and strengthen the ability of the MoPH to manage, monitor, and evaluate the national health system. SHARP is funded through the multi-donor Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, managed by the World Bank. Canada is working in close cooperation with the World Bank, other donors and the Government of Afghanistan to promote effective, transparent, and accountable country systems; to increase donor coordination and harmonization; and to strengthen mutual accountability. Projects like SHARP foster greater policy dialogue among donors, government, and partners, thus helping to strengthen efforts towards effective, focussed aid and long-term development results. This project is part of Canada’s maternal, newborn, and child health commitment.
Approximately 85% of the population living in the targeted districts have now access to the basic package of health services. Between 2009 and 2013, the total number of pregnant women receiving at least one antenatal care visit to a health provider increased from 32.3% to 54%. The coverage of deliveries attended by skilled attendants increased from 18.9% to 47.4%. The immunization coverage of children against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus increased from 34.6% to 46.7%. The success rate of treatment against tuberculosis is now at 90%. The percentage of women between 15 to 49 years of age using family planning increased from 15.4% to 19.5%.
