April 25 is observed as World Malaria Day, drawing attention to the global fight against the disease.
According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan ranks fifth globally in terms of malaria-affected populations.
Nayebullah Safi, the WHO representative in Afghanistan, reported a significant milestone, stating that the country has achieved zero deaths from malaria. However, the number of positive malaria cases in Afghanistan surged in 2023, with over 180,000 registered cases, marking a 109 percent increase compared to 2021.
“In 2023, Afghanistan recorded over 180,000 malaria cases, representing a 30 percent rise from 2022 and a staggering 109 percent increase from 2021,” Safi disclosed.
Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister of Public Health, highlighted the concentration of cases in the eastern region, where over 91 percent of cases were reported.
“91.2 percent of positive cases are concentrated in eastern provinces including Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan, Paktika, and Khost,” noted Haqqani.
The United Nations Development Program announced the allocation of funds by the Global Fund to combat malaria in Afghanistan until 2026. Additionally, an extra five million dollars has been earmarked to tackle diseases like AIDS and tuberculosis.
Ahmad Wali Sediqi, UNDP representative in Afghanistan, elaborated, “We have secured funding from the Global Fund for malaria control from 2024 to the end of 2026. Additionally, nearly five million dollars have been allocated to contain and combat diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis.”
As per the Ministry of Public Health, Afghanistan operates 4,900 hospitals and health centers dedicated to malaria treatment and prevention nationwide.
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