In response to gaps in standardized trauma management in western Afghanistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) trained 48 first contact health care workers, half of them women, in basic emergency care (BEC) in Herat province.

Since January 2024, WHO has trained 339 health workers in BEC, 154 of them women, across Afghanistan.

The trained health workers include doctors, gynaecologists, nurses and midwives who care for patients with acute illnesses or injury.

BEC requires a systematic approach to the initial assessment and management of time-sensitive conditions such as injuries, infections, noncommunicable diseases, including mental health conditions, and acute complications of pregnancy. It is relevant to many health workers, including nurses, ambulance providers and doctors, and in a range of settings, including humanitarian crises.