Battling food insecurity in three Afghan provinces

A lethal mix of declining household income, healthcare collapse and three consecutive years of drought has exacerbated food insecurity in Afghanistan. When families become food insecure, children under the age of five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are most at risk.

Medair is closely working with communities and local leaders to reduce infant and maternal mortality in three provinces of Central and Southern Afghanistan.

Medair’s approach to tackling the population’s alarming nutritional deprivation includes:

• Screening and treating children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers for malnutrition and related illnesses.

• Improving access to essential health services, including maternal, reproductive and mental health services and medicines.

• Providing families with cash assistance and hygiene kits.

• Promoting community awareness of child nutrition, hygiene and health practices such as exclusive breastfeeding and hand-washing.

• Building, improving or rehabilitating water infrastructure.