26 June 2024, Kabul, Afghanistan – The World Health Organization (WHO) has significantly expanded medical support in Afghanistan, benefiting over 700,000 individuals across 113 health facilities in hard-to-reach areas within 15 provinces. This initiative includes the distribution of 330 primary health care kits, aimed at improving health care access in underserved regions.
The support provided to 44 basic primary health care centers (PHCCs) and 69 sub-PHCCs has so far reached over 737,000 people. Among these beneficiaries, approximately 516,000 are female, and over 221,000 are male, with 51% under the age of 24. This effort is part of a year-long project launched in April 2023, supported by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).
The project also featured three targeted capacity-building programs for 402 health professionals (251 males, 151 females), conducted through 14 training workshops from April 2023 to April 2024. These workshops addressed essential gaps in knowledge and skills, focusing on the rational use of drugs, stock management, and adherence to national standard treatment guidelines. Health workers from 10 provinces—Baghlan, Farah, Ghor, Helmand, Nuristan, Paktika, Samangan, Takhar, Wardak, and Zabul—participated in these sessions.
Dr. Jamshed Tanoli, acting WHO Representative to Afghanistan, highlighted the impact of the collaborative efforts: “The combined initiatives of WHO and its partners, supported by QFFD, have notably enhanced health service delivery in Afghanistan’s underserved areas. Our primary goal is to improve access to essential and life-saving medicines and to bolster the capacity of health professionals to deliver quality care in vulnerable communities.”
WHO expressed gratitude to QFFD for its substantial contribution, which has facilitated the provision of vital medicines and medical supplies to numerous health facilities in remote regions. This support has empowered health professionals to deliver quality health services to millions of underserved individuals across the country.
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