As part of an initiative to provide increased service delivery in Hirat Province, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, (GIRoA), engaged community leaders and shuras and identified the construction of a health clinic for the Hirat Industrial Park as a community priority. Operated by the Department of Public Health, the clinic is designed to provide necessary health facilities for the estimated 8,000 workers in the park, as well as nearly 2,000 nearby families. The U.S. Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) Civil Affairs team undertook construction of the clinic. Due to funding restrictions, USAID’s Local Governance and Community Development (LGCD) project was asked to provide a site engineer to monitor construction progress and provide regular feedback to the SOTF.  USAID’s LGCD program also provided basic supplies and medical instruments to complete the clinic’s interior. U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry joined the Hirat provincial governor, municipal and line department officials, as well as USAID and U.S. Government representatives, firm owners and workers at the January 21, hand-over ceremony for the completed health clinic. Through this clinic, the Department of Public Health will continue to engage the local community, providing a clear demonstration of GIRoA’s ability to provide and maintain service delivery in Guzara. 

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights: 1/15/2011-1/31/2011