To reduce further transmission of COVID-19 and reduce mortality and morbidity caused by  severe acute  malnutrition (SAM) in targeted high risk districts in context of  COVID-19 in Afghanistan Health:
Afghanistan remains a protracted complex emergency and is frequently affected by natural disasters leading to significant loss of lives, livelihoods as well as reversion of developmental gains. 
On 31 December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia of unknown etiology was reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. On 9 January 2020 Chinese authorities reported in the media that the cause of this viral pneumonia was initially identified as a new type of corona-virus.  The situation has further affected when the local transmission moved globally with highest number of confirmed cases and deaths reported from Iran and Italy after China with multiple global hot spots.  WHO expects that in the days and weeks ahead, we might see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. On 11 March 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Afghanistan has been affected by the virus with having already the local transmission of COVID-19 with 33 out of 34 provinces already reported the cases.  Slowing the transmission of COVID-19 and protecting communities requires participation of every member of at-risk and affected communities. It is therefore essential that national, and local authorities engage through participatory two-way communication efforts proactively, regularly, transparently and unambiguously with all affected and at-risk populations. Ability to engage and mobilize communities find, test, and isolate cases provide effective clinical care and maintain essential health services differs according to the capacity and context both nationally and regionally, as well as the intensity and prevalence of COVID-19 transmissions. Residents of high-density informal settlements find it especially hard or even impossible to comply with physical distancing measures and movement restrictions. The treatment of large volumes of patients with COVID-19 in existing health facilities is not possible, and widespread testing, contact tracing and quarantine measures may prove challenging without major, rapid and coordinated capacity strengthening. 

There are nine priority areas that WHO plans to cover on the overall COVID-19 response. Under the AHF Reserve Allocation, the following two  thematic health areas are covered:
1) Strengthen and enhance the capacity of national laboratories for sample collection and testing
2) Risk communication and community engagement

Nutrition:
The Nutrition cluster has prioritized the activities as described in the COVID-19 Multi-Sector Country Plan. Strengthening the capacity of inpatient services is also part of the priorities. As of now, 26 high-risk districts are prioritized. These districts are also identified by DTM-IOM as high risks districts for COVID-19 on the Iranian border side. They are also HRP districts. The SAM cases with medical complicated need life-saving treatment services through inpatient facilities, which is in line of cluster HRP SO1 and CovId 19 Multi-Sectoral humanitarian country plan. The intervention will strengthen operational and staff’s functional capacity in the 24 IPD-SAM that provide treatment and care for children with complicated Severe Acute Malnutrition in the context  of COVID-19 . Health workers in the targeted IPD-SAM will receive training on inpatient management of SAM, breastfeeding, hygiene as well as on infection prevention and control for the beneficiaries and health workers themselves. The targeted IPD-SAM will undergo assessment followed by functional upgrading, through the provision/replacement of F-75/F-100 milk preparation kits, which are essential in the management of the malnourished children. Equipment including medical equipment,medicine ,milk preparation kit, and cold chain and warming system, bed side chairs for caregivers will to ensuring the quality and efficient continuity of services provided by the IPD-SAM centers.