Doha: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that 80 percent of the essential health care services it supports in Afghanistan could become discontinued due to a funding shortfall.
According to Qatar News Agency, WHO called for an urgent intervention to prevent the closure of over 220 facilities by June 2025, which would leave 1.8 million Afghans without access to primary health care. The organization highlighted the critical nature of these services and the dire consequences of their potential shutdown.
It added that as of 4 March 2025, 167 health facilities had already shut down due to funding shortages, cutting off lifesaving medical care to 1.6 million people across 25 provinces. This situation emphasizes the urgent need for financial support to maintain the healthcare infrastructure in the country.
"These closures are not just numbers on a report, they represent mothers unable to give birth safely, children missing lifesaving vaccinations, entire communities left without protection from deadly disease outbreaks," said WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Afghanistan, Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador. "The consequences will be measured in lives lost."