Afghanistan is considered to have the 4th largest malaria burden
worldwide of any country outside and one of the high burden
country in the EMRO region, estimated annual incidence 18 per
1000 population in 2007. Since 2002, under the new transitional
Afghan government, the NMLCP has taken major steps to improve
its managerial and technical capacity and secure external
technical assistance and resources in order to implement the RBM
strategy. Political support is strong and Malaria control is
considered a national health priority.
In the complex post-conflict situation in Afghanistan, close
co-operation between the MoPH/NMLCP, donors, NGOs and other
partners involved in Malaria control at all levels is essential
for strengthening, implementing and expanding the Malaria
control program. The government, MoPH and relatively large
number of stakeholders have clearly stated Malaria to be one of
the priority diseases within the 18 priorities listed in the
National Health Policy 2005-2009 and associated strategies. For
this reason, Malaria control activities are included in BPHS are
to be performed by doctors, nurses and community health workers
(CHWs) after training and receiving regularly supervision.
Through support of GFATM,USAID,) World Bank, European Commission
and AFD (French ) BPHS implementing partners are instrumental in
the future success of the Malaria control activities that will
lead to the overall reduction in the Malaria burden of
Afghanistan.
The national malaria control strategy has been revised for
2009-2013. Which emphasizes on the confirm diagnosis of all
clinical malaria cases by providing the laboratory services at
the BHCs level and rapid diagnosis at community level.
The number of falciparum cases are decreasing which is an
indication to move towards the new world strategy to eliminate
P.falciparum malaria especially from Northern part of
Afghanistan bordering Tajikistan.The WHO Afghanistan with the
support of USAID initiating the project in three provinces of
Northern region to establish the malaria diagnosis facilities at
BHCs level to diagnose all clinical cases of Malaria.
Despite these achievements many constrain are hampering in the
implementation of the program due to unavailability of correct
diagnosis in many health facilities.
