FAPs and PHCs

It is crucial to provide assistance to ill and wounded people as quickly as possible; to broaden access to medical facilities, reaching places far away from larger hospitals; to provide even the smallest settlements with medical equipment; and to develop healthcare competencies within communities. These are some of the core aims of EMERGENCY’s network of First Aid Posts (FAPs) and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). In Afghanistan, a lack of healthcare facilities and hazardous road conditions means that hundreds of thousands of people living in remote areas of the country are denied the right to treatment. Our network of FAPs and PHCs works to overcome these challenges. 

Since 1999, EMERGENCY has established a network of over 40 FAPs and PHCs throughout the country. Local colleagues (trained by EMERGENCY) work alongside our international staff to provide primary healthcare and first aid. Patients suffering from serious conditions or injuries are stabilised and subsequently transferred to EMERGENCY hospitals by an ambulance service which operates 24/7. 

Over the years we have developed this network following the map of the conflict. First aid care is crucial, especially in a difficult terrain like Afghanistan, with rough roads and isolated districts far from health facilities.

EMERGENCY’s presence in Afghanistan has enabled us to gain an understanding of the needs of local populations and, following specific requests made by local authorities, the scope of our activities in Afghanistan has gradually widened. 

Points of reference for local communities

We built the first FAPs in small isolated villages or mountain passes in heavily mined areas. The network has then expanded over the years – at the request of local communities who are turning to us to have a medical and health point of reference in their village – to today include more than 40 locations:

Kabul Area: Andar, Barakibarak, Chark-Logar, Gardez, Ghazni, Gurband, Laghman, Maydan Shahr, Mehtarlam, Mirbachakot, Pul I Alam, Sheikhabad, Tagab, Male orphanage and female orphanage in Kabul, Governor Jail, Investigation Jail, Transition Prison, Pol i Charki Prison.

Anabah Area: Abdara, Anabah, Anjuman, Changaram, Dara, Darband, Dasht-e-Rewat, Gulbahar, Hezarak, Kapisa, Khinch, Koklamy, Oraty, Peryan, Poli Sayad, Said Khil, Sangai Khan, Shutul.

Area of Lashkar-gah: Garmsir, Grishk, Marjia, Musa Qala, Sangin, Shoraky, and Nadali.

At a time when the public health system is under pressure for the economic and financial crisis – some difficulties persist in the regular payment of salaries to staff employed in the public health system and in the procurement of materials needed for health care activities –  the presence of our FAPs is increasingly important.