With funding from the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), Save the Children has inaugurated a new Sub Health Centre in the Dawlat Abad district of Balkh province. This centre provides essential healthcare services to a broad catchment area, including five neighbouring villages with a total population of approximately 8,400.

The facility is staffed by a diverse team of nine professionals: two medical doctors (one male and one female), a midwife, a Psychological Support Specialist (PSS), two hygiene promoters, a nutrition nurse, a nutrition counsellor, a vaccinator, and a pharmacy dispenser. The centre serves around 150 patients each day, underscoring its critical role in managing both acute and chronic health needs.

In addition to general healthcare, the Sub Health Centre is actively engaged in integrating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives and child protection services. This multifaceted approach significantly enhances its impact on community health by addressing key health determinants and providing comprehensive care to vulnerable populations. The integration of WASH and child protection services ensures a robust, preventive, and holistic model of healthcare delivery.

Karima* (32), who is five months pregnant, expressed: “It’s a big relief for us to have a clinic in our village that provides free treatment and medicines. We are poor and cannot afford private hospitals or medicines. Thank you, Save the Children.”