International Medical Corps (IMC)

The programme includes full range of primary health care interventions, covering the entire Azerbaijan section of the pipeline route. The goal of ICHD is to improve living conditions and livelihoods in targeted communities along the BTC/SCP pipeline route through activities that promote, foster, and encourage sustainable social and economic development. International Medical Corps is implementing the programme in cooperation with four local partners. They are the Ministry of Health National Reproductive Health Office (NRHO), Shafalli Allar (Caring Hands), the Azerbaijan National Nurses Association (ANNA), and the Azerbaijan Women and Development Center (AWDC).


The amount of BTC/SCP grant is $1,486,518 and International Medical Corps is contributing over US $ 2.5 mln in medicine and medical equipment donated to IMC by Western Pharmaceutical and medical companies. The ICHD programme addresses three objectives:

• to improve awareness of health and sanitation issues,
• to support access to improved social infrastructure – health care,
• to improve livelihoods and economic opportunities for BTC project affected communities through income generation interventions and small health enterprise development.

The programme offers a full range of development services in 30 rural communities distributed throughout Hajigabul, Kurdamir, Ujar, Agdash, Yevlakh, Goranboy, Samukh, Shamkir, Tovuz and Agstafa districts. The total number of direct programme beneficiaries is approximately 150,000. Indirectly, the ICHD programme will reach over one million people. Through the ICHD programme 99 doctors and feldshers, 107 nurses, 85 midwives, 12 obstetrician-gynaecologists, 62 school teachers, and 1336 community health workers are being trained to provide improved health and education services to their communities. More than 300 community groups will be formed with strong emphasis on gender balance to ensure community participation in health interventions. Thirty-one health clinics will be either constructed or fully renovated. Finally and most importantly, each of the 30 target communities will establish a community health fund or health insurance mechanism which will allow the community to sustain the quality and future of their health clinics. More than 300 new jobs will be created and the population will have improved access to high quality primary health care services.

International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives and relieving suffering through community based relief and development programmes. Established in 1984 by volunteer United States doctors and nurses in response to the war in Afghanistan, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary organization. Its mission is to improve people’s quality of life through community based social development programs that build local and national capacity in areas worldwide. International Medical Corps has worked in Azerbaijan from May of 2000.

To get an update on the programme please refer to the “Latest News” Section.