The country’s health system is close to collapse. At this time, only the presence of humanitarian organisations ensures fundamental services for primary health
Never in twenty years of war the health system in Afghanistan has been so close to total collapse. This is the alarm we now receive through the data and stories from our staff engaged in guaranteeing health care in the provinces of Kandahar and Zabul. The interruption of the fighting did not improve the living conditions of the population. The food, economic and social crisis is getting deeper. The blocking of liquidity and imports is already severely limiting the continuity of essential services and the supply of essential goods and medicines.
As of August 15th, we have seen an increase in patients turning to the health centers we support for assistance. Humanitarian aid is, in fact, playing an emergency substitute role in trying to ensure coverage of essential services, given the interruption of pre-existing funding for development projects, including those to support the health system. Vast areas of the country, the so-called “white areas”, remain without basic services, including health care services, guaranteed only by the presence of international NGOs. And this is where our intervention focuses.
“Staying in Afghanistan at the moment is more important than ever – Alda Cappelletti, Director of Programs of Intersos from Kandahar says – These days I am visiting the structures supported by Intersos in remote areas without any other form of health care. At the moment, only the presence of humanitarian organisations ensures fundamental services for primary health, the fight against malnutrition, medical care for women and children”.
Intersos currently supports several primary health centers in the districts of Spin Boldak, Maywand, Shawalikot, Zheray as well as the hospital in Qalat and the health centers of Kharwaryan and Shajoy in the province of Zabul. Our presence guarantees the offer of basic health services, maternal and child health and nutritional programmes in remote and difficult to access areas, which would otherwise lack any type of health service.
“Despite the ongoing difficulties, we remain operational without new restrictions, also as regards the inclusion of our female staff in the projects – the General Manager of Intersos, Konstantinos Moschochoritis, underlines – We must remember that we have faced difficulties in the past as well, but as a humanitarian organisation our presence and response have always been guided by humanitarian needs. Today, responding to needs in Afghanistan must be no exception”.