Services provided by USAID NGO
• Select a country or global region with significant unmet health needs (not the US).
• Select one specific NGO (non-governmental organization) that currently provides services in that region: USAID NGO
• Compare the effectiveness of services the specific NGO is providing; and what services the local government is providing the community with three or more statistics.
• Identify at least three gaps and make at least three suggestions for expansion. These suggestions are yours- not what may be listed by the NGO or government as future plans.
• Follow APA 7th guidelines for paper and references. Use APA 7th edition format; paper should be 2-3 pages double space not included reference and cover page. Use Times New Roman 12 font.
Sample Solution
The country I have chosen for this analysis is Afghanistan. Despite international efforts to improve its healthcare system, the nation still struggles with basic health needs due in part to decades of war which has created a lack of resources and damaged infrastructure (USAID 2019). To address these gaps USAID has been providing services in the region since 2002 working to “improve access to quality health care, support disease prevention and strengthen public sector capacity” (ibid.).
One way that USAID has been effective at improving healthcare standards is through its work on public-private partnerships. These initiatives focus on reducing preventable illness by increasing access to affordable medical care as well as advocating for better public policy (Kamal & Martin 2017). This approach has enabled them to provide vaccinations, nutrition interventions, family planning advice and mental health support which would otherwise be unavailable or too expensive for many people living in rural areas.(ibid.)
Another area where USAID has had positive impact is maternal and child health. It provides life-saving care such as antenatal checkups ,postnatal consultations, newborn screenings etc., across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan (USAID 2019). In addition, it helps local governments improve their own infrastructure by supporting projects such as training programs for midwives or building new hospitals thus ensuring safe childbirth remains available throughout remote regions while also protecting against seasonal flooding.
These efforts have resulted significant improvements although there are still many challenges remaining: according to World Bank data infant mortality rate was still at 51 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 signifying a long road ahead before lasting progress can be achieved .While the organization does support local governments when possible it ultimately relies upon international donations for most of its funding meaning greater commitment from all levels if meaningful change is ever going to take place .(Wilkinson et al., 2020 ).
