As water resources continue to decline in Afghanistan, some farmers in Farah province say saffron farming can provide them with a source of income because the crop requires less water. They emphasize that their main needs are creating opportunities for saffron cultivation and improving access to the domestic market for the product.
A number of youth in Kapisa have complained about the accumulation of waste in parks and green spaces across the province, saying that the lack of trash bins and the disregard of some citizens for maintaining cleanliness have caused pollution in these areas.
September 29 is World Heart Day, observed every year to raise awareness about heart disease and the importance of prevention and timely diagnosis. Doctors say women are also exposed to various risk factors for heart disease. Factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, genetic factors and some hormonal changes can increase the risk of heart disease.
Herat has lived with the 120-day winds for years. These winds are part of the natural climate of the Sistan region and western Afghanistan, blowing from late spring through summer and into early autumn. But the problem is not the wind itself. When the land dries up, groundwater levels fall and vegetation disappears, dry riverbeds, wetlands and abandoned land are exposed to the wind. The same wind that was once simply a natural climate phenomenon can then lift soil and carry dust.
Psychologists and neurologists say Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia that is more commonly seen in women. They believe that women’s longer life expectancy compared with men, hormonal changes, stress and anxiety may be among the reasons behind this.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with UN Women, has launched an initiative to help women entrepreneurs access financial resources to start and grow their businesses.
Although the lack of sports clubs near their homes, high costs and limited access to sports facilities have made it difficult for many youth to exercise, they remain interested in sports. Some go to sports clubs farther from their homes, some exercise at home, while others continue to exercise in available spaces.
The Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) covering Afghanistan has announced that it has provided a complete trauma kit to Spin Boldak District Hospital in Kandahar.
Information obtained from the Ministry of Public Health, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and interviews with eight obstetricians and gynecologists and 17 women in 11 provinces shows that most infant deaths in Afghanistan are caused by preventable factors.
Shilajit is a rare natural substance found in the high-altitude and rugged mountains of Badakhshan. The black substance comes out of rocks and cliffs and, after being collected, cleaned, and processed, is sold in the market. Despite the many difficulties and risks involved in collecting it, many residents of these areas continue to extract and sell it.
The United Nations has said that more than 70 million people worldwide are deaf, as it marks International Day of Sign Languages.
A number of women in Siyahgerd district of Parwan say that the launch of a small workshop producing pickles, tomato paste and local dairy products has not only created job opportunities and provided income, but has also increased their self-confidence and given women in the village hope for the future.
