KABUL (SW) – Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has released a report about the decrease in the supply of health services in the northern provinces of Afghanistan, expressing concern and saying that due to a shortage of health workers, insufficient budgetary allocations, and a lack of essential facilities, the Afghan healthcare system is under considerable pressure.
The report underscores the urgent need for attention and support to mitigate these challenges and ensure the delivery of adequate healthcare in the affected regions.
MSF further emphasizes that these challenges have led to the deterioration of health infrastructures, a shortage of healthcare workers, and an increase in mortality rates.
Amin Mortazawi, the provincial coordinator of MSF in Balkh, says that this organization works in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health to reduce the mortality of children and infants in the north of Afghanistan.
“We are addressing the health care needs of people, especially vulnerable infants and children, given the high demand on the strained and under-resourced health system,” he added.
Farida, whose child is hospitalized in the clinic of MSF at the Mazar-e-Sharif, central Balkh, says that she hopes her child will recover soon.
She adds: “I took my child to many doctors and paid a lot of money for his prescriptions, but my child did not get better and even had diarrhea and it got worse. Now that my child is in the MSF clinic ward, I am happy that he is recovering.”
however, officials at the Ministry of Public Health affirm that standard health services are provided to citizens in all hospitals across the northern provinces of the country.
Sharaf Zaman Amarkhel, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health, highlights a decrease in maternal deaths with the addition of 1,500 health workers and improved service provision. He urges supporting institutions in the health sector to enhance their assistance to the Afghan health sector.”
He adds: “During the republic rule, 50% of health services were not provided to citizens, and these figures include children, mothers, and adults, and could reduce the death rate of mothers and children in Afghanistan by hiring new employees and providing health services.”
officials at the Ministry of Public Health say that in recent days 350 new hospitals have been put into operation in different provinces.
It should be mentioned that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has cut off its financial aid to 25 government hospitals in Afghanistan this year.
