A landmark medical procedure has been carried out at Abu Ali Sina Balkhi Regional Hospital in Balkh province, where doctors have successfully performed a Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) to remove a nasal tumour for the first time.

The operation was conducted by the hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist team on a 45-year-old patient who had been suffering from persistent nasal congestion and headaches. Hospital officials said the patient responded well to the procedure and was discharged in good condition following post-operative observation.

The achievement highlights growing surgical capacity at the regional facility.

According to hospital data, the ENT department treated 23,726 patients during the 1404 solar year. Of these, 881 patients required admission, while 874 underwent major surgical procedures.

Officials say the figures reflect both rising demand for specialised care and the expanding capabilities of the hospital’s ENT unit in northern Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, with support from international partners, has launched the first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026.

The three-day campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 12.6 million children under the age of five, according to the ministry.

Officials said the initiative is a key step toward preventing the spread of the poliovirus and strengthening child health nationwide.

The ministry confirmed that the campaign has been postponed in Daikundi and Bamiyan provinces due to cold weather conditions, while in Ghor province it will be conducted one week later.

Minister of Public Health Noor Jalal Jalali said at the launch that the ministry, in cooperation with international partners, remains committed to preventing the spread of polio and working toward its complete eradication in Afghanistan.

He called on religious scholars, community leaders, and families to actively support vaccination teams and contribute to the success of the nationwide campaign.

The Ministry of Public Health warned that polio is a dangerous viral disease with no cure and can only be prevented through vaccination. It added that the disease can cause permanent paralysis or even death in children if not prevented.

Health teams will be deployed across the country during the campaign to ensure effective implementation, and families have been urged to bring their children under five years of age to designated vaccination points.