Afghanistan Peace CampaignEdwin Ceniza Salvador urged the international community not to forget Afghanistan in terms of humanitarian and health aid.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan has warned that the country’s healthcare system is severely weakened, with a large portion of medical expenses falling on the shoulders of the people.
Edwin Ceniza Salvador urged the international community not to forget Afghanistan in terms of humanitarian and health aid.
“Maybe around 79 to 80 percent of the health sector is supported by international, and is supported by out-of-pocket, which means that people have to pay from their pocket 80 percent of the cost of health care. 19 percent of that comes from the international community. One percent comes from the de facto government.
So you’re looking at one percent from the de facto, 19 percent from the international community, and 80 percent from the people,” he said.
This WHO representative pointed to the sharp decline in international aid, particularly the halt in US assistance, which previously accounted for 47 percent of support. He said that efforts are ongoing to attract support from other countries, including the European Union and Gulf nations.
Edwin Ceniza Salvador said: ”Increase partnership with other goodwill donors like the European Union, whether they can find additional resources that they’re already supporting in addition to what they’re supporting to Afghanistan. And maybe also encourage other partners like the Gulf state, like the other governments that don’t usually support Afghanistan as much. Maybe we’re having a dialogue collectively to see if they can increase their support to Afghanistan, to at least cover some of the loss that has been because of the US government.”
Meanwhile, doctors in Afghanistan also confirm the fragile state of healthcare services and speak of the pressure on health centers due to dwindling resources.
Abdulwahid Safa, a doctor, said: “In remote areas of our country, people are facing extreme poverty and health problems. There is an urgent need for support in areas such as child and maternal nutrition and the provision of essential aid.”
Mujtaba Sufi, a doctor, stated: “People are highly dependent on healthcare assistance, salary payments for health workers, building rent, and other essential needs. These areas, which are linked to the WHO, should not be politicized or halted. Community health depends on this aid, but at the same time, self-sufficiency should also be considered.”
Despite these warnings, on April 29, the Ministry of Public Health announced that efforts toward self-sufficiency in the healthcare system are ongoing.
The ministry’s spokesperson pledged that despite the closure of several health centers previously supported by international organizations, healthcare services in the country remain stable.