International Assistance Mission (IAM) is helping the Afghan government in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 by providing services, raising awareness and informing people how to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a new virus that has been recently spread throughout the globe, and has been worrying people. The virus affects people respiratory system. Apart from prevention tactics advised by doctors, there is no specific treatment available for this virus.

Our Mental Health Programme in the west of the country has been doing the following activities:

Printing and dissemination of awareness and prevention banners, brochures, and billboards, showing the key health messages.
Preparing, printing and disseminating of mental awareness materials about managing stress and anxiety people are experiencing at this time.
Participating in different TV shows and speaking about controlling stress and anxiety.
Providing two phone numbers for mobile counselling and support, accessible to people throughout Afghanistan.
Preparing and distributing of personal protection equipment (PPE) to health sector and to MHP health centres.
Providing technical and management assistance to the Provincial Public Health Directory and Health Committee.
Holding a workshop for hospital staff working with COVID-19 patients about psychological first aid.

Our Mental Health Program is continuing to serve the Afghan people through raising awareness and providing vital mental health services during this difficult time.

Afghanistan – a country with fragile economy and health system. The Government has recently started to lockdown in Kabul, Herat, Balkh, and we expect more cities to be added to the list in coming days.

Because of the lockdown, NOOR program has put following practices in place to keep staff and patients safe during movement in hospital

Before entering NOOR hospitals patients and visitors wear masks. We also have a stock of these that we can provide if they do not have any themselves.
On arrival, we check patients and visitors’ body temperature. If they have a high temperature then we refer them to the relevant hospital.
Whoever comes to inside the hospital should wash their hands with soap and water.
All medical staff are equipped with appropriate protection, such as masks and gloves, when they are examining patients, and we are trying to reduce the level of risk.
Hospitasl are cleaned throughout the day, including doors, door handles and bathrooms. And all of the hospitals are cleaned by disinfectant at the end of the day.
Our staff are practicing social distancing and good hygiene, sanitising public places, eating meals separately, and avoiding unnecessary risk.
Hand sanitizer is placed in all around the hospital for staff to be use.
Washing liquid is available in kitchen for washing spoons, glasses and forks.
Trainings are given to all staff for raising their awareness about coronavirus.
Different kinds of awareness raising materials are printed and installed throughout hospital.
Our staff are divided into two working groups, each shift works for 15 days.

A team of medical staff, alongside those from the hospital administration are continuing to monitor these measures.

For more information about our Health projects, please click here.