The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced that significant efforts have been made to reduce malaria in Afghanistan, but these achievements are at risk.
The organization made this statement on its X account in observance of World Malaria Day, emphasizing its commitment to fighting malaria in Afghanistan with a fair approach and providing healthcare services to vulnerable groups, especially migrants, pregnant women, and children.
The WHO stressed the need for investment to eliminate malaria in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Edwin Sinizal Salvador, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, stated, “Afghanistan has made significant efforts to reduce malaria, but these achievements are at risk. We must reinvest in effective tools and resume collective action.”
He added that the time to act is now to eradicate malaria once and for all.
It is worth mentioning that the World Health Organization has designated April 25 as World Malaria Day.
The WHO had previously warned that approximately 77% of Afghanistan’s population is at risk of contracting malaria.
According to the organization’s statistics, in 2023, 180,718 cases of malaria have been reported in Afghanistan.
Malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes, and its main symptoms include fever, chills, and body weakness. To prevent contracting this disease, the use of mosquito nets and wearing protective clothing are recommended.
Following the caretaker government’s directive prohibiting women from working in NGOs and organizations affiliated with the United Nations, access to healthcare services in Afghanistan has become more restricted.
