Snapshot of health care services in Northern Bamyan

LCPL Dwyer at the Ru Ye Sang Health Clinic, Bamyan, Afghanistan.

by LCPL Dwyer, Patrol Medic

3 January 2008

Kiwi Team Two has now completed two patrols in their area of responsibility, Northern Bamyan, and we’re well into the swing of things. The focus of our first patrol was merely familiarisation of the area but our second patrol enabled us to visit various health clinics throughout the area.

As the patrol medic my primary role here in Afghanistan is to maintain the health and well being of patrol members and oversee environmental health issues.  I also have the responsibilities of being patrol driver and ‘head chef’.  During the course of this patrol I was also lucky enough to be able to visit six health clinics.

The clinics range from Basic Health Clinics (BHC) to Comprehensive Health Centres.  Each of these clinics is under the management from IBN SINA (an implementing partner funded mainly by US Aid) whose headquarters are located in Bamian .

Some clinics have been up and running for six years while others have just been established in the last two to three months. The most advanced of the facilities was the Comprehensive Health Centre located in Sayghan. This facility has solar power, fresh water from an easily accessible well, and radio communications back to IBN SINA Headquarters. The newest clinic had no power, limited water supply and was yet to employ a doctor.

Clinics have their own characteristics, but most shared common features. Generally each has a male and female Out Patient Department, with the female department often doubling as a birthing clinic. Commonly, clinics employ one or two midwives and accommodate between three and ten births a month. Birthing suites are very basic; often just a small room with a delivery bed and boiler for hot water.

Each clinic has a specific vaccination programme in place with one to two Vaccinators employed. The programme focuses on children from birth to five years and females aged 15-45 years. They receive many of the common childhood vaccinations we receive in New Zealand, such those for as Polio, Tuberculosis and Measles. One doctor in the Kharmad region was very proactive, having one of his vaccinators working full time making house calls. They estimate they have now vaccinated 65-70% of the local population against Tuberculosis. 

The clinics receive re-supply every two to three months from IBN SINA. Most have only basic medications and dressing equipment, and they are happy with the re-supply they receive.  The clinics are all very busy, and see anywhere from 20 -80 patients a day. Most of the clinics are under staffed and under funded. In one village a Basic Health clinic was treating and estimated population of 30,000 people.

Most clinics welcomed our visits with open arms. They were very accommodating often inviting us to stay for choi (cup of tea) or lunch. Despite limited facilities most complained little. Common requests were for new buildings as the majority of the buildings being utilised were originally built as houses and are not ideal as health clinics. 

Visiting the clinics have helped the NZ PRT to build up a picture of the health capabilities in the Northern Bamyan region, so we may work together to bring better health care to the people of Afghanistan.

Ends