Health
COVID-19 kills 40 people in Afghanistan in one week
Forty people have died from COVID-19 in Afghanistan in the past week, authorities said on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Public Health, however, said that the peak of the current wave of COVID-19 has passed in Afghanistan and that infections and deaths are declining.
According the ministry’s data, 59 people died due to coronavirus in the second week of February.
Javed Hazhir, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said that 500 people recovered in the first week of February, 2,600 in the second week, 2,400 in the third week and 3,773 in the last week of the month.
He said that Afghanistan does not have the equipment to detect the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
According to the official, the World Health Organization had pledged to deliver the equipment to detect the Omicron variant in late January, however, it has not fulfilled its promise.
“We shared with them the problems and the consequences. They make so many promises in the media, but in practice, unfortunately, there has been no major assistance to address the problems,” Hazhir said.
Meanwhile, medical staff at Afghan-Japan hospital, one of the main hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, said that the number of patients has declined in the last couple of weeks.
According to them, most of the patients have Omicron variant symptoms.
Ebadullah Ebadi, a doctor at the hospital, also warned that they will face serious problems if international donors stop funding the facility.
Qatar Red Crescent Society on Saturday signed an agreement with the Afghan Red Crescent Society for the treatment of 169 children suffering from congenital heart defects.
The agreement was signed by Mohammad Saleh Ibrahim, Director of Relief and International Development Division at Qatar Red Crescent Society, and Matiulhaq Khalis, the acting head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
At the signing ceremony, Khalis appreciated the continuous support of the Qatar Red Crescent Society.
In the past two years, the Afghan Red Crescent Society has referred 3,094 children suffering from congenital heart defects to local hospitals for treatment.
Thousands of other children suffering from the disease are waiting for treatment.
Afghanistan launched a polio vaccination campaign on Monday aimed at protecting around 10.72 million children under the age of 5, the Health Ministry announced.
The four-day campaign will cover 31 of the country’s 34 provinces.
Vaccinations in Ghor, Daikundi and Bamiyan provinces will be implemented later due to recent rains and cold weather, the ministry said in a statement.
“Together with our partners, we are committed to eradicating polio from Afghanistan,” said Dr Qalandar Ebad, the acting minister of public health.
“We will work tirelessly and continue polio vaccination campaigns and complementary health services until we reach the goal of fully eradicating polio.”
The ministry urged religious scholars and local elders to cooperate with vaccine providers to fight polio, a debilitating disease that can lead to paralysis and death.
In December, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the repatriation of migrants from neighboring Pakistan has increased the risk of spreading the virus. Since then, Afghanistan has conducted at least three rounds of nationwide vaccinations.
Vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan often face challenges due to conspiracy theories that polio vaccines cause infertility or that vaccinators are spies.
Acting Minister of Public Health Qalandar Ebad, in a meeting with Azerbaijan’s ambassador, Ilham Mohammadov, called for the country’s assistance in improving the capacity of Afghanistan’s health workers.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in the health sector, capacity building of Afghan health workers, and Azerbaijan’s role in the health sector and other issues, according to a statement released by the Public Health Ministry.
Azerbaijan’s envoy said that his country seeks to cooperate with Afghanistan in a sustainable manner in the field of health.
In other news, the foundation stone for the construction of oxygen production facility was laid at the Indira Gandhi children hospital in Kabul.
Officials of the Ministry of Public Health said that the facility will be built with the financial and technical assistance of the World Health Organization, and with the capacity to produce 200 cylinders of oxygen daily to meet not only the needs of the hospital, but also other health facilities.
Qatar Red Crescent signs agreement on treatment of 169 Afghan children with heart defects
IEA leader approves law on prevention of begging
Saudi crown prince, US national security adviser meet on Gaza, bilateral deal
Tahawol: Killing of 3 foreign tourists in Bamyan province
Saar: Efforts to solve Afghanistan’s political issue discussed
Commerce ministry inks 10 MoUs to boost development of small and medium-sized businesses
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
Afghanistan announce T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rashid Khan named AWCC’s brand ambassador
New Zealand to go ahead with Afghanistan cricket Test
Tahawol: Killing of 3 foreign tourists in Bamyan province
Saar: Efforts to solve Afghanistan’s political issue discussed
Exclusive interview with Indrika Ratwatte, deputy head of UNAMA
Tahawol: Deputy PM’s meeting with Chinese ambassador discussed
Saar: Regional consensus on Afghanistan discussed
-
Climate Change4 days agoSummer 2023 was the hottest in 2,000 years, study says
-
Latest News5 days agoNakamura canal project completed in Nangarhar
-
Sport4 days agoStubbs gives Delhi IPL play-off hope with win in last league match
-
Business4 days agoAfghanistan’s imports and exports totaled $10.3 billion last year
-
World4 days agoManhunt underway after gunmen ambush French prison van to free drug dealer
-
Latest News5 days agoActing health minister visits flood-stricken villages in Baghlan
-
Regional4 days agoWorld Court to hold hearings over Israel’s Rafah attacks
-
Sport5 days agoSix KPL cricket teams snap up 15 players each in this year’s draft