KABUL (SW) – The international entities have reduced their assistance to the healthcare sector in Afghanistan, said officials at the Ministry of Public Health.
Eshaq Sahibzada, the ministry’s financial and administrative officer, said that the decrease in global aid has led to the suspension of medical services at some clinics and doctors not get paid salaries.
“At the beginning of the year, the Islamic Emirate allocates its budget to the health sector. ژlaiming to finance clinics, but halfway through the year, they say they cannot fund them,” he added.
On the other hand, Qalandar Ebad, the Acting Head of the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate, mentioned that currently, 13 types of vaccines for life-threatening childhood diseases are being administered free of charge to children under five years old at vaccination centers across Afghanistan.
“By administering these vaccines, we can prevent diseases such as polio, tetanus, influenza, pneumonia, measles, and several others,” Ebad said. He further highlighted that this year, 1.8 million children will receive various vaccines.
However, officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that childhood immunization could prevent the deaths of three million children annually.
Deborah, a WHO representative, said, “Vaccines prevent the deaths of three million children every year. Today, Afghanistan faces serious threats from diseases such as measles, diarrhea, polio, COVID-19, and other illnesses.”
Against the ongoing threats, World Immunization Week serves as a timely reminder of the importance of vaccine access for disease prevention and saving lives.
