Bringing Help to the Sick in Afghanistan

The people of Hospita suffer from three major communicable diseases: tuberculosis or multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), tuberculosis with HIV/AIDS (TB/HIV), and malaria. It was therefore deemed necessary to design and construct a hospital in Kabul, including quarantine facilities and equipment procurement, that could treat people with these diseases.

Challenge

Help Afghanistan tackle communicable diseases by establishing a hospital capable of providing high-quality medical services and, ultimately, decrease outbreaks of TB, MDR-TB, and malaria.

Of all the infectious diseases, tuberculosis is one of the major causes of death in Afghanistan. Annually, 60,000 people are infected, and an average of 20,000 people die from it. Furthermore, in recent years, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become stronger and there are fears of an epidemic. There is also serious concern over the increasing number of cases of people with both TB and HIV/AIDS (TB/HIV).

Services

Under this JICA Grant Aid project, OC Global provided basic and detailed designs, as well as construction supervision and equipment procurement.

Results

After this top hospital for communicable diseases was completed, medical systems to fight MDR-TB, TB/HIV and malaria were strengthened and medical services for diagnosis and treatment were quantitatively and qualitatively upgraded.

A laboratory unit established in the general medical service department increased the capacity for laboratory examinations and supplied the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) with reliable information on the three major communicable diseases.

After upgrading laboratory examination and medical services, communicable disease controls in Afghanistan were disseminated nationwide, helping contribute to the aims of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

As medical achievements are reached, and educational information is collected by this hospital and passed on to others, awareness education regarding the three major communicable diseases is helping to improve communicable disease controls throughout the country.

Location
Afghanistan
Official Title
Consulting Services for the Project for Construction of Hospital for Communicable Diseases
Project Type
Architectural services - health facilities
Client
Government of Afghanistan
Project Period

2009 – 2013

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
"Communicable diseases are major threats to the people of Afghanistan. This hospital will provide facilities for treatment of resistance TB cases, complicated malaria and HIV/AIDS in the country."
H.E. Dr. Suraya Dalil, Minister of Public Health on the occasion of the opening, 18 Jan 2014.