The United Nations Human Settlements Programme has recently stated that no mother should have to wait in cold or hot weather with her sick child for access to healthcare services across Afghanistan.
In a message posted on its X account, the organization mentioned that, with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, it is constructing a waiting area at the Charasiab Hospital in Kabul to provide a safer and more dignified space for patients and their companions.
The UN Human Settlements Programme further emphasized that it is currently working on the construction of six waiting areas in hospitals throughout Afghanistan.
This comes as the lack of facilities and waiting areas in Afghan hospitals, particularly in government hospitals, poses a significant challenge for patients and their families. The absence of waiting areas has often led to patients’ companions wandering in the hallways and courtyards of hospitals during treatment.
It is worth noting that the maternal mortality rate in this country is 521 per 100,000 live births.
Moreover, Afghanistan’s healthcare system has faced extensive challenges for decades, including a shortage of medical centers, specialized doctors, and medications. In many remote provinces of the country, there are still no healthcare facilities available.
