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In Afghanistan, approximately 42% of deaths during childhood result from treatable and often preventable illnesses including respiratory infections and diarrhea. Working with the Afghan Ministry of Health to prevent these unnecessary deaths, USAID provided nearly fifty-four metric tons of pharmaceuticals (119,016 lbs.) for use by nineteen nongovernmental organizations (NGO) in fourteen rural Afghan provinces.

Agriculture, and grape cultivation in particular, is the centerpiece of life in Zabul Province. The farmers from this exceptionally poor province face numerous challenges on issues involving irrigation, production, farming technologies and equipment, credit, and post-harvest processing.

Afghanistan's maternal and child mortality rate is among the highest in the world, but the Taliban would not allow the training of new nurse-midwives. When the regime was ousted, only 537 skilled, trained nurse-midwives — kabilaha — remained in the country. USAID is working to triple that number and, at the same time, establish trained midwifery as a profession worthy of support and respect.

Noria Sedequi and her family of 10 lived in exile in Pakistan for eight years during the Taliban regime. They returned to Parwan Province, about 60 kilometers north of Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2001. Jobs were scarce, and Noria knew that jobs for women were even more scarce.

Years of drought depleted livestock and impoverished many families in Herat Province, in Western Afghanistan near the Iranian border. Poppy smuggling is a common source of income for some, but many men have lost their lives in this dangerous and illegal enterprise. Due to these deaths, the Adraskan District has more widows than any other district in the province. Most of these widows are unable to earn enough to provide for themselves and their children, or even to purchase basic materials for making carpets, for which Herat is well-known.

Most farmers in Afghanistan make little or no income during the winter. In addition, the high start-up costs for cold storage that could boost farmer income is not feasible for the average small-to-medium scale farmer. In Herat Province, the approximately 1.5 million inhabitants rely on fresh fruit and vegetables imported from Iran or Pakistan at high prices during the winter. Afghan farmers do not possess the greenhouse technology necessary to grow late-season or off-season fruits and vegetables to meet this large demand.

Through USAID, the clinic received a major refurbishment and a newly constructed wing. The roof, exterior, interior, and bathroom facilities were completely gutted and renovated. The clinic also received a new generator and water tank.

The newly reconstructed 64 kilometer (40 mile) Ghazni-to-Sharan road has decreased travel time between the two communities from four hours to one.