Health

COVID-19 kills 40 people in Afghanistan in one week

Published

4 years ago

March 8, 2022

Forty people have died from COVID-19 in Afghanistan in the past week, authorities said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Public Health, however, said that the peak of the current wave of COVID-19 has passed in Afghanistan and that infections and deaths are declining.

According the ministry’s data, 59 people died due to coronavirus in the second week of February.

Javed Hazhir, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said that 500 people recovered in the first week of February, 2,600 in the second week, 2,400 in the third week and 3,773 in the last week of the month.

He said that Afghanistan does not have the equipment to detect the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

According to the official, the World Health Organization had pledged to deliver the equipment to detect the Omicron variant in late January, however, it has not fulfilled its promise.

“We shared with them the problems and the consequences. They make so many promises in the media, but in practice, unfortunately, there has been no major assistance to address the problems,” Hazhir said.

Meanwhile, medical staff at Afghan-Japan hospital, one of the main hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, said that the number of patients has declined in the last couple of weeks.

According to them, most of the patients have Omicron variant symptoms.

Ebadullah Ebadi, a doctor at the hospital, also warned that they will face serious problems if international donors stop funding the facility.

Health

Public Health Minister, WHO envoy discuss healthcare services in Afghanistan

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health, Noor Jalal Jalali, met on Wednesday with Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the representative of the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, to discuss efforts to strengthen capacity across key areas of the health sector.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, discussions focused on mental health, cancer care, polio eradication, migrant health services, and the development of laboratory systems.

In a statement, the ministry said it remains fully committed to reinforcing the country’s healthcare system and is working closely with international partners to ensure the delivery of quality services to all citizens.

The WHO representative reaffirmed the organization’s continued support, highlighting its readiness to assist the ministry in capacity-building initiatives, service improvement, and broader health sector development.

Health

First endoscopic nasal tumour surgery successfully performed at Balkh regional hospital

The achievement highlights growing surgical capacity at the regional facility.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 16, 2026

Ariana News

A landmark medical procedure has been carried out at Abu Ali Sina Balkhi Regional Hospital in Balkh province, where doctors have successfully performed a Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) to remove a nasal tumour for the first time.

The operation was conducted by the hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist team on a 45-year-old patient who had been suffering from persistent nasal congestion and headaches. Hospital officials said the patient responded well to the procedure and was discharged in good condition following post-operative observation.

The achievement highlights growing surgical capacity at the regional facility.

According to hospital data, the ENT department treated 23,726 patients during the 1404 solar year. Of these, 881 patients required admission, while 874 underwent major surgical procedures.

Officials say the figures reflect both rising demand for specialised care and the expanding capabilities of the hospital’s ENT unit in northern Afghanistan.

Health

Afghanistan launches first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026

The three-day campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 12.6 million children under the age of five, according to the ministry.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 12, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, with support from international partners, has launched the first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026.

The three-day campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 12.6 million children under the age of five, according to the ministry.

Officials said the initiative is a key step toward preventing the spread of the poliovirus and strengthening child health nationwide.

The ministry confirmed that the campaign has been postponed in Daikundi and Bamiyan provinces due to cold weather conditions, while in Ghor province it will be conducted one week later.

Minister of Public Health Noor Jalal Jalali said at the launch that the ministry, in cooperation with international partners, remains committed to preventing the spread of polio and working toward its complete eradication in Afghanistan.

He called on religious scholars, community leaders, and families to actively support vaccination teams and contribute to the success of the nationwide campaign.

The Ministry of Public Health warned that polio is a dangerous viral disease with no cure and can only be prevented through vaccination. It added that the disease can cause permanent paralysis or even death in children if not prevented.

Health teams will be deployed across the country during the campaign to ensure effective implementation, and families have been urged to bring their children under five years of age to designated vaccination points.