KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) representative in Afghanistan, has warned that diabetes has become a major public health concern in the country, with many patients remaining unaware of their condition until they develop serious complications.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, November 14, the WHO’s Afghanistan office said that access to diabetes diagnosis remains severely limited across the country’s public healthcare system.
Salvador said urgent investment was needed to prevent and address the growing burden of diabetes in Afghanistan.
According to him, diabetes screening services are currently available in only one out of every 20 public health facilities in the country.
The WHO representative urged people aged 40 and above to have their blood sugar levels tested at healthcare centres.
He warned that early diagnosis and timely treatment could help protect patients’ eyesight and kidney function and prevent serious complications associated with the disease.
According to the latest estimates by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 1.93 million adults aged between 20 and 79 are living with diabetes in Afghanistan.
The federation’s latest report estimates that around 71.4 per cent of people with diabetes in the country – approximately 1.38 million people – are unaware that they have the disease. More than 11,000 deaths are attributed to diabetes in Afghanistan each year.
The IDF projects that the number of adults living with diabetes in Afghanistan could rise to approximately 4.76 million by 2050 if current trends continue.
The warning comes amid growing pressure on Afghanistan’s already fragile healthcare system, which faces shortages of funding, medical staff, equipment and essential medicines. The World Health Organization estimates that 14.4 million people in Afghanistan will require health assistance in 2026, highlighting the scale of the country’s healthcare crisis.
According to the WHO’s Health Cluster, at least 422 primary healthcare facilities, including mobile health and nutrition teams, were closed during 2025 following the suspension of US funding and cuts by other international donors. The closures have affected access to healthcare for an estimated 3.3 million people, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The reduction in international assistance has further weakened the delivery of essential health services at a time when Afghanistan is facing widespread poverty, food insecurity, malnutrition and recurring disease outbreaks. Restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities on women’s education, employment and participation in public life have also created additional challenges for the healthcare sector, particularly in maintaining and developing a qualified female medical workforce.
Meanwhile, the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, is placing additional demands on a healthcare system that already struggles to provide basic medical services. The WHO has stressed the need for sustained investment in primary healthcare, early diagnosis and access to affordable treatment to prevent further deterioration of public health in Afghanistan.
