Communication for Behavior Change: Expanding Access to Private Sector Health Products and Services in Afghanistan (COMPRI-A)

Provinces	Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Hilmand, Hirat, Jawzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktya, Panjsher, Parwan, Samangan, Sari Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Program	Health (Increasing access of women and children to quality basic health services)
Dates	February 2006 - March 2010
Partner	Constella Futures Group International
Website

COMPRI-A focuses on improving the capacity of the private sector to provide health products and services throughout Afghanistan and promotes healthy behaviors for individuals, families and communities. The project targets the private sector such as pharmacies and private doctors with the aim of reaching people who do not utilize or have no access to public services. Additionally, the project supports mass media campaigns through local television, radio stations, mobile cinema and live theater performances, and works with mullahs, imams, and other key influencers to reinforce knowledge and behaviors about child survival, birth spacing, and water treatment solutions that reduce diarrheal diseases. Health products, such as contraceptives, oral rehydration salts (ORS), and water purification tablets, are distributed through over 4,800 retail outlets.

Private pharmacists and doctors and midwives from private hospitals/clinics in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Hirat, Ghazni, Parwan, Faryab, and Khost provinces have been trained and certified by the National Private Sector Health Training Center (NPSHTC) to promote modern contraceptives. COMPRI-A has been instrumental in developing the Afghanistan Social Marketing Organization (ASMO) and has provided technical assistance to the Khalid Irshad Pharmaceutical (KIP), the first pharmaceutical company to receive ISO 9000 certification in Afghanistan.

All Health activities