In Afghanistan, increased preventative healthcare could save many lives and lead to a healthier population. Recently, USAID sponsored a health promotion workshop at Kabul Medical University, tailored to medical school professors, nursing faculty, and NGO staff. Participants from five provinces discussed how to raise community awareness, increase commitment to preventative health care, and improve women’s health. Workshop moderators used case studies and examples of common health interventions in Afghan communities to engage participants in the discussion.
Participants commented that the workshop was “very useful and something new for our country.” The workshop content, tailored to the Afghan context, will be made available to the participants for use in teaching their own students. Additional five-day courses are planned on relevant public health topics, such as nutrition and research methodology.