SCA treats, educates millions of Afghans

KABUL (SCA) said on Monday it provided medical care to more than 2.9 million patients in four provinces of Afghanistan last year.

In an effort to improve the quality of and access to maternal and child health care, the SCA educates community midwives in three provinces, where most graduates return to work in their rural home districts.

As part of the Learning for Healthy Life project, 2,500 women combined with education on reproductive health, hygiene and nutrition, the SCA said in its annual report.

"In 2001, fewer than one million children had access to education; today the estimate is 6-8 million. Still today, girls have less access to education than boys," the report said.

With a view to increasing the number of qualified female teachers in districts, the committee provides teacher training as part of the curriculum for grades 11 and 12. Out of 122,745 children in SCA schools, 56 percent are girls.

pr/mud