Health

One in 8 Afghan Women Suffering from Breast Cancer: MoPH

Published

9 years ago

October 21, 2015

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: October 25, 2022)

One out of eight women is suffering with breast cancer in Afghanistan.

Breast cancer is the second deathly disease after maternal death in childbirth which takes lives of the Afghan women.

Findings reveal that this disease affects 99 percent of the women and only affects half percent of men.

Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) says awareness is the most effective way to prevent this disease.

Officials say our findings have revealed that Afghanistan has the highest rates of breast cancer in which on out of every eight women is suffering of this cancer.

“One of the reasons of increase in maternal death is the breast cancer, one out of every eight women has been suffering of this disease, this is not a fatal disease if we seek treatments,” Ferozuddin Feroz Minister of Public Health Affairs said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns that the disease may double in the Mediterranean area, particularly in Afghanistan in another two years and emphasis on their commitment to fight against breast cancer.

“Breast cancer is among four types of cancers which mainly affects women and probably this disease may increase in another two decades, out of 20,000 cases of cancer in Afghanistan 7,000 of these are breast cancers,” Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Afghanistan said.

Afghanistan’s First Lady also asks health workers to work harder to aware women about this disease and to treat the disease.

“Health officials must take serious actions to aware, diagnose and treat breast cancer,” First Lady Raula Ghani said.

Breast cancer is a group of cancer cells that starts in the cells of the breast. It is the second leading cause of death among women. Although most people who develop breast cancer will not be able to pinpoint one specific cause, scientists have learned much about risk factors that may indicate a stronger likelihood for cancer.

Reported by: Fawad Naseri

Health

Azerbaijan urged to help improve capacity of Afghan health workers

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: April 22, 2024)

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.

Health

Balkh health officials report sharp increase in number of cancer patients

Published

5 days ago

April 18, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: April 18, 2024)

Balkh Public Health Department officials say there has been a significant increase in the number of patients with cancer in the province.

“In 1401, about 2,613 OPD (out patient department) cases were registered with us. In 1402, these figures were 4,912 cases,” said Ehsanullah Kaliwal, the head of the oncology department at Balkh Regional Hospital.

Some doctors say genetic factors, environmental pollution, arbitrary use of medicines, and excessive consumption of meat were reasons for the sharp increase.

One doctor said cancer was also hereditry.

However, a large percentage of cancer patients in Balkh have stomach cancer. Many of them have appealed for the government to improve treatment facilities.

According to health officials, in the first month of this solar year (April), 423 cancer patients visited this hospital for treatment.

Health

Majority of Afghans with mental disorders are women: officials

Published

1 week ago

April 13, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: April 13, 2024)

Based on last year’s data, 52 percent of people with mental disorders in Afghanistan are women, the Ministry of Public Health said.

However, after the Islamic Emirate took over the country and with the improvement of nationwide security and the provision of better health services, mental disorders have decreased, the ministry said.

“Overall, the mental security of men and women in Afghanistan is not ensured and their mental security is disturbed. According to the figures shared with us, in 2023, 52 percent of the visitors for mental disorders were women,” said Sharaft Zaman Amarkhil, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health.

“Generally speaking, we can say that compared to the past, the instances of mental illnesses have decreased,” he added.

People suffering mental disorders mostly refuse to share their problem, willingly or unwillingly.

“There are many problems at home; We are poor. I finished school, but didn’t find any job,” Ansar, a mentally ill person, said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of Afghanistan’s population suffers from mental distress.

Factors such as unemployment, poverty, domestic violence, ban on girls’ and women’s education and work, and drugs are said to be key contributors to mental distress.