APHI is the academic and intellectual body of MoPH which develops HR for public health; coordinate and conduct researches; gathers, and analyzes health data and synthesizes required health information for making and advocating decisions, policies and plans; to improve the quality of health system performance and attain the long term goals of the MoPH.

1. Established in 1963 with the support of the German Government, but after 25 yrs of fruitful activities, became dormant during years of war and unrest.

2. In October 2003, the Post Emergency Public Health Center of Afghanistan (PEPCHA) established via Cooperative Agreement with the National Center for Environmental Health/CDC, which leaded to revival of APHI.

3. To Improve the capacity of MoPH in:

• Training the national public health workforce on modern public health,
• Conducting/ Coordinating Research to assess the existing health situation, health system performances and their impact.
• Improving disease surveillance and DEWS and timely response
• Utilizing data and generating Information for evidence based policy & decision making,

4. The leadership of MoPH with special interest and attention of HE the Minister and deputy Minister for Technical affairs, In July 2006 decided to revive APHI, to technically support and serve other departments in the MoPH.

5. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed in this regard with CDC/ HHS USA, In which the Initial collaboration of the partners is focusing in two main areas: MCH and AI preparedness.

6. APHI consists of 8 following depts.: 1. Public Health and Management Training dept, 2. public Health Research dept, 3. Surveillance & DEWS dept, 4. Healthy Behavior Promotion dept, 5. HMIS dept., 6. Food & Drug Quality Control Lab, 7.Central Public Health Lab and 8.Advance Information Technology  dept.

7. Total Staff of APHI is 332 and is located on 3rd floor of the main building of MoPH and in the central laboratory compound near to Cinema Pamir.

8. APHI is the academic and intellectual body of MoPH which:

• Develop  Human Resources in public Health,

• Coordinate and conduct necessary research to assess the existing health situation, health system performances and their impact.

• Analyze data and synthesize health information for making and advocating decisions, policies and plans,

• Improve disease surveillance & DEWS and timely response,

• Promote the health of the people through reaching the community to influence positive lifestyle changes,

• Introduce informatics and other health technology for improving efficiency of public health interventions, monitoring and evaluation.

• Improve the quality assurance and control of drugs & foods through Lab services.

  Saying all above mentioned, in brief APHI is an academic and intellectual body of MoPH which Develops human resources in public health, coordinates and conduct research, gathers and analyzes health data and synthesizes required health information for making and advocating decisions, policies and plans, to improve the quality of health system performance and attain the long term goals of the MoPH.
   
  With the (Technical and financial) support from our partners in near future we hope APHI will aspire to be a state of the art center for public health and management trainings, Research, Information Provision, MoPH “Think Tank” and Collaborating Center for WHO.