Health

Finding COVID-19’s origins is a moral imperative: WHO chief

Published

1 year ago

March 12, 2023

(Last Updated On: )

Discovering the origins of COVID-19 is a moral imperative and all hypotheses must be explored, the head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday.

A U.S. agency was reported by the Wall Street Journal to have assessed the pandemic had likely been caused by an unintended Chinese laboratory leak, raising pressure on the WHO to come up with answers, Reuters reported.

Beijing denies the assessment which could soon become public after the U.S. House of Representatives voted this week to declassify it.

“Understanding #COVID19′s origins and exploring all hypotheses remains: a scientific imperative, to help us prevent future outbreaks (and) a moral imperative, for the sake of the millions of people who died and those who live with #LongCOVID,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter late on Saturday.

He was writing to mark three years since the WHO first used the word “pandemic” to describe the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Activists, politicians and academics said in an open letter this weekend that the focus of the anniversary should be on preventing a repeat of the unequal COVID-19 vaccine rollout, saying this led to at least 1.3 million preventable deaths.

In 2021, a WHO-led team spent weeks in and around Wuhan, China where the first human cases were reported and said in a joint report that the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal, but further research was needed. China has said no more visits are needed.

Since then, the WHO has set up a scientific advisory group on dangerous pathogens but it has not yet reached any conclusions on how the pandemic began, saying key pieces of data are missing.

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Health

World Blood Donor Day: Over 670,000 units of blood donated in past year

Marking World Blood Donor Day in Kabul on Thursday, health officials said that in 1402 solar year, 150,000 men and 8,000 women donated blood.

Published

3 days ago

June 13, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Officials from the Ministry of Public Health say they have collected more than 670,000 units of blood from across the country in the past year.

Marking World Blood Donor Day in Kabul on Thursday, health officials said that in 1402 solar year, 150,000 men and 8,000 women donated blood.

“Fortunately, the employees of the Ministry of Public Health have been able to increase the number of blood donors,” said Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister of Public Health.

Meanwhile, officials at the central blood bank stated that they distribute safe, disease-free blood to patients in accordance with international norms.

“In the past year, 677,000 units of blood have been collected,” said Saifur Rahman Pashton, head of the Central Blood Bank.

In addition, a number of participants in this program donated blood in a bid to encourage people to do the same.

“We donate this blood for the needy who have thalassemia and cancer diseases,” said one blood donor.

Every year, the ministry marks this day to promote the culture of donating blood by spreading awareness.

Balkh health officials report sharp increase in number of cancer patients

Health

Congo fever cases rise 38% in last two months in Afghanistan

The Public Health Ministry’s spokesman said in the first five months of this year, 203 positive cases of Congo fever and six deaths were recorded across the country

Published

5 days ago

June 11, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

On the eve of Eid al-Adha, the Ministry of Public Health has announced that cases of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever have increased by 38 percent in the last two months across the country.

The Ministry of Public Health said that last year there were about 244 positive cases of Congo fever, of which about 100 patients died.

Sharaf Zaman, the spokesperson of Public Health Ministry, added that in the first five months of this year, 203 positive cases of Congo fever and six deaths were recorded throughout Afghanistan.

According to him, Congo fever cases have increased by 38% in the last two months.

“It is very important to allow at least fifteen minutes for the blood to drain completely after slaughtering the animals on Eid days”

Congo fever is carried by domestic animals and can be transmitted by ticks. It is found in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Symptoms include headaches, back pain, vomiting, severe bruising and nosebleeds.

“It is very important to allow at least fifteen minutes for the blood to drain completely after slaughtering the animals on Eid days. Then cover the blood on the ground with soil or wash it with soap, powder or only water. After skinning the animal, the skin should be put in a plastic bag immediately,” said Faridullah Omari, a medic.

According to medics, to prevent the spread of Congo fever, infected people should be quarantined and they should avoid contact with healthy people.

WHO says 47 died from Crimean-Congo fever in Afghanistan in past six months

Health

24 mothers, 167 infants die in Afghanistan each day, WHO reports

Published

6 days ago

June 10, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Afghanistan faces a staggering daily toll of 24 maternal deaths and 167 infant deaths due to preventable causes, according to a new report released Sunday by the World Health Organization.

The report underscores the continuing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, highlighting the multifaceted challenges that citizens endure daily.

“Afghan citizens face an unstable health system and the daily specter of food scarcity and malnutrition,” the WHO states. This crisis is further exacerbated by the burden of both communicable and noncommunicable diseases, frequent disease outbreaks, severe drought, and natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, the report stated.

The situation for Afghan women has particularly deteriorated, with limited access to education and livelihoods, WHO said.

The WHO report emphasizes that the need for humanitarian assistance has surged dramatically, adding that children and women bear the brunt of the health emergency.

“Preventable maternal mortality claims the lives of 24 mothers every day, and a staggering 167 infants die each day of preventable causes,” the WHO report highlights.

In addition, Afghanistan’s high level of food insecurity affects 15.8 million people, WHO stated.

Polio also remains a concern, although there have been significant gains in its eradication since 2021, the report noted.

The ongoing geopolitical situation has also affected the health sector, leading to reduced international support. “The health sector is struggling to meet the surging demand for services,” the WHO report states. Severe underfunding led to the closure of 428 static and mobile health facilities between January and December 2023, impacting over 3 million individuals, including more than 600,000 children under five and over 240,000 pregnant and lactating women.

However, the Ministry of Public Health’s spokesman Sharafat Zaman says the report cites incorrect data. He said 300 mother have lost their lives while giving birth in the past six months.