Afghan Social Marketing Organization

Emergency Health Response in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s health system is susceptible to various shocks, including natural disasters, economic instability, and public health emergencies. These crises disrupt routine healthcare services and strain limited resources, putting vulnerable populations especially women, children, and displaced communities at higher risk. The Afghan Social Marketing Organization (ASMO) is well-positioned to deliver coordinated emergency health responses utilizing its robust network of private-sector providers, pharmacies, distributors, and community educators, while collaborating closely with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Health and Nutrition Cluster, and other humanitarian partners.
ASMO’s emergency response is grounded in an integrated public-private approach, which enhances geographic coverage, accelerates supply distribution, maintains quality standards, and delivers a unified public health message. The emergency response focuses on four key intervention areas:

Initiative

Initiative 1
Enhance Community Health Education

Initiative 1

Enhance Community Health Education

Misinformation during emergencies can lead to unsafe health practices and reduced service uptake. ASMO aims to provide consistent, evidence-based health education to affected communities through partnerships with public health facilities and private providers. This involves harmonizing messaging with the MoPH, utilizing multiple delivery channels (such as clinics, pharmacies, and social media), and fostering two-way communication. Training providers to address community concerns and debunk myths will help build trust and increase the effectiveness of health interventions. 
Enhance Community Health Education
Initiative

Initiative 2
Emergency Medical Care and Supply

Initiative 2

Emergency Medical Care and Supply

Supply chain disruptions during crises can cause shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies. ASMO will mitigate these issues by activating its national logistics network to ensure both public and private facilities receive necessary supplies. This will involve pre-positioning emergency stocks, coordinating distribution across health systems, maintaining cold chain protocols for sensitive medicines, and training healthcare staff in emergency dispensing practices. These measures will ensure consistent medical support reaches all communities. 
Emergency Medical Care and Supply
Initiative

Initiative 3
Disease Outbreak Response

Initiative 3

Disease Outbreak Response

Emergencies heighten the risk of disease outbreaks due to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation. ASMO will mobilize public and private providers for a coordinated outbreak control approach. Key actions include joint prevention campaigns to promote hygiene and vaccination, mass vaccination efforts utilizing private facilities as vaccination points, distributing essential outbreak-control supplies, and establishing clear treatment and referral protocols. Integrated surveillance and training will enhance early detection and response to outbreaks. 
Disease Outbreak Response
Initiative

Initiative 4
Establish Mobile Health Clinics

Initiative 4

Establish Mobile Health Clinics

When fixed healthcare facilities are compromised, ASMO will deploy mobile health clinics in collaboration with public health authorities. These clinics will offer primary healthcare consultations, maternal and newborn care, basic laboratory testing, immunization services, and the distribution of essential health commodities. Mobile clinics will also serve as venues for health education and will facilitate connections to longer-term care options in nearby public or private facilities. Community leaders and MoPH officials will help determine deployment locations to ensure equitable access.
Establish Mobile Health Clinics
Afghan Social Marketing Organization