Announcement

Southern-based IIFCs Offer Medical Services to Members

Community-outreach programs, such as providing medical services to members, are funded by a small fee credit union members pay.

Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan  | Friday, July 31, 2009

Photo: USAID/ARIES

An IIFC member receives medical services.

In late July, the Nangarhar and Helmand Islamic Investment and Finance Cooperatives (IIFCs) began providing medical services to their members. Hundreds of IIFC members in the two provinces received consultation and treatment at the clinics, each of which employs two doctors, one male and one female, and one nurse.

IIFCs are community-based, member-owned institutions that provide a range of Islam-compliant financial services to their members.  Community-outreach programs, such as providing medical services to IIFC members, are funded by a small fee credit union members pay in the process of repaying their loans.  IIFC members determine how they will use these proceeds – intended to be used for charitable purposes – to serve community needs.  This further strengthens the relationship between the local members and the IIFCs, leading to the long-term sustainability of IIFC financial services. Twenty-eight IIFCs and points of service are currently operating in 11 provinces reaching over 37,000 members.