Following the announcement of the suspension of 80% of World Health Organization (WHO) centers in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate has called on world countries to support the organization.
Two days ago, WHO warned that by June this year, 80% of the health centers it supports in Afghanistan would be shut down due to a lack of funding.
Abdul Latif Nazari, the technical deputy minister of economy, stressed the crucial role of WHO in supporting Afghanistan’s health sector, saying: “Our request to the international community and humanitarian organizations is to support this organization so that it can continue providing its services to the Afghan people.”
Doctors in the country have also highlighted the significance of WHO in delivering healthcare services, funding medical staff, and preventing infectious diseases in remote areas. They warned that such a decision could lead to the collapse of the country’s health system.
“Unfortunately, this decision will create many problems for our people, and it will force patients from provinces to travel to central areas, which will cause even greater difficulties,” said Madad Khan Danishwar, a doctor.
“It will have a direct negative impact on our health sector. On one hand, many doctors will become unemployed, and on the other, the number of controllable diseases will rise, ultimately affecting the general public,” said Mujtaba Sufi, another doctor in Kabul.
Meanwhile, in another report, WHO revealed that in February, it provided health services to 171,583 people across 20 provinces of Afghanistan. These services were delivered through 123 health centers.
“These aid efforts must continue. People are not in a good financial condition to buy medicine. They simply cannot afford it,” said Gul Mohammad, a resident of Kabul.
Earlier this week, WHO announced that by March 4, 167 health centers in 25 districts that had been serving 1.6 million people were shut down due to budget shortages.
Additionally, Save the Children has reported that 18 health centers in Afghanistan have recently closed.