KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says there has been a substantial rise in Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in Afghanistan in recent months. According to UNICEF, the number of ARI cases has increased by 16% compared to the same period last year, with children under the age of five making up 62%.
In its latest report, the UN agency said that over 160,000 ARI cases were reported in January 2024 alone throughout Afghanistan. The organization attributed the increase in ARI cases primarily to the severe weather conditions and air pollution in the country.
UNICEF quoted Dr. Jan Agha, a doctor at Sorabhi District Hospital in Kabul, who noted that besides severe weather conditions and air pollution, factors such as poverty, insufficient respiratory hygiene, and overcrowded living conditions contribute to the rising number of ARI cases in Afghanistan.
“Mothers come to our hospital bringing children with fever, coughs and pneumonia. As many Afghans slide into poverty, they find it increasingly difficult to afford adequate heating, causing the rate of respiratory infections to rise, especially among children and the elderly,” explained Dr. Jan Agha.
The country is currently facing a prolonged humanitarian crisis, with millions of people living with poor or no access to healthcare facilities, food, warm clothing, and clean drinking water, putting them at severe risk of malnutrition and disease outbreaks.
On the other hand, a critical lack of funding and healthcare workers has pushed the country’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. UN agencies warned last year that the funding shortfall puts millions of lives at risk, exacerbating the existing hardships of hunger, malnutrition, infectious diseases, and a severe drought.
“Afghanistan’s healthcare system is facing a significant funding deficiency, and if left unsupported, will have a devastating impact on the health of Afghans, especially women and children,” WHO said.
In its latest report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that decisions by donors to reduce humanitarian aid, along with the Taliban’s abusive policies and practices, have worsened healthcare access and impeded the training of future female healthcare workers in the country.
HRW says that the collapse of the economy and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs after the Taliban takeover have driven many people into extreme poverty, leaving them unable to pay for their medical expenses, worsening their social determinants of health, and threatening rights essential for maintaining an adequate standard of living, including the right to food.
Earlier today, health authorities in the northeastern Takhar province reported that health centers in the province are facing a critical shortage of medical equipment, including medicine, medical instruments, and ambulances.
In a press conference, Ghulam Sarwar Rahmani, the head of the Taliban Directorate of Public Health in the province, said that currently 21 health centers in the province lack permanent buildings and operate in rented premises to provide health services for the people.
To address the increasing number of ARI cases in Afghanistan, UNICEF announced that, with the support of the World Bank, it has positioned medical supplies and heating materials in health facilities to ensure prompt medical attention for affected individuals.
The UN agency also said that it supports the operational costs of approximately 2,400 health facilities which covers the salaries of around 27,000 health workers.
