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WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 22, 2002 — A $1.4 million health communication program in Afghanistan funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development will combat common but life-threatening childhood illnesses, particularly diarrhea and pneumonia. The project will be implemented by PSI and the CATALYST Consortium led by Pathfinder International. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan after 23 years of war," said PSI President Richard A. Frank. "We look forward to applying PSI's experience in oral rehydration therapy and behavior change communication in South Asia and elsewhere to this project to save the children of Afghanistan." The goal is to reduce infant and child mortality in Afghanistan through prevention and treatment of diarrhea and acute respiratory infections which, together, account for 42 percent of child deaths. A main objective is to increase adult practices that result in better management of diarrhea diseases among children, and practices on the part of all family members that prevent pathogen transmission and result in a reduced number of diarrhea episodes. In Afghanistan, 20 percent of children under three are reported to have had diarrhea within the last two weeks. Many of the diarrhea episodes result in unhealthy practices that exacerbate the diarrhea. For example, 25 percent of children were given less or no liquid during the last episode and 50 percent were given less or no food. Infant mortality in Afghanistan is 165 per 1,000 live births, the third highest in the world, compared to seven in the U.S. More than one in four children die before the age of five. The project will disseminate health information that promotes life-saving practices in the homes and communities of Afghanistan through a mix of mass media, especially radio, and interpersonal communication. A particular emphasis will be made on reaching the many Afghan women who are homebound, through expansion of the existing network of female community health workers. The diarrhea disease communication component will provide health messages on hand-washing, optimal breast feeding, rehydration techniques and safe water treatment and storage. The acute respiratory infection (ARI) component will disseminate messages on the symptoms of ARI in young children, the importance of seeking early care and the proper ingestion of medications. These interventions can be expected to have a significant health impact in a short time. Individually, each intervention has proven to contribute to significant reductions in childhood deaths. But rarely have these been promoted together in a closely coordinated way. ARI, such as pneumonia, remains one of the leading causes of illness and death for children under the age of five in developing countries. Even with significant progress in addressing the burden of disease, pneumonia claims approximately two million lives annually of children under the age of five. Diarrhea remains one of the most common - and most preventable — illnesses among children in developing countries and it can easily lead to death if severe dehydration sets in. Children are especially vulnerable to dehydration because their bodies are small and more sensitive to fluid loss. |
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