Covid-19 Afghan vaccination campaign planned for June: WHO – Pakistan Observer

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the organization will start the coronavirus vaccination campaign in Afghanistan in June.

According to WHO, more than five million people in Afghanistan will benefit from the vaccine in this campaign.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign is planned in Afghanistan for June 2022, covering 34 provinces and targeting more than 5 million in the adult population aged 18 years and above, WHO tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health said that the COVID1-9 vaccination campaign will be launched in 12 provinces by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in 22 other provinces by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“The Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is launching a nationwide COVID-19 vaccine campaign, with 12 provinces will be funded by the World Health Organization and another 22 by the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF,” said Javed Hajir, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health.

“These days, the number of positive cases of COVID-19 increased, and hundreds of people come to the hospital every day for treatment,” said Mirny Bratzi, a doctor at the Afghan-Japan Hospital.

“If the vaccine is provided and available to everyone, we will support it,” said a resident in Kabul.

Earlier, the Ministry of Public Health said that there is only one treatment center for Covid patients in each province of the country.

According to the ministry, more than eight million people across the country have received the vaccine so far.

The Ministry of Public Health said that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have provided financial aid to around 70 percent of health centers in 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

“These two organizations fund 2,568 health centers, which support 71% of the health sector,” said Javid Hajir, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) announced the delivery of 34 tons of medical supplies and equipment to Afghanistan.

“Over 34 tons of much needed medical equipment and material were successfully delivered today to Afghanistan. The EU and its partners continue to support the most vulnerable Afghans in the country as long as it is needed,” Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management tweeted.

In the meantime, officials at the Jamhoriat Hospital, the only government-run cancer treatment hospital in Afghanistan, expressed concern over the lack of medical equipment in this hospital.

“We have a lot of problems in terms of staff, lack of space and medical facilities,” said Manouchehr Samadi, head of the cancer treatment department at the Jamhoriat hospital.

Patients in the hospital also complain about the lack of suitable facilities and a lack of medicine.

“We buy medicine from the market, I have been sick for 4 years, but I have been buying medicine from the market for two years, they do not give us medicine here, I have to borrow money to buy medicine from the market,” the patient said.

The aid comes as some international organizations have already expressed concern about the poor state of health care in Afghanistan.—Agencies

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