WHO Regional Director concludes visit to Afghanistan, emphasizes support for health priorities …
10 May 2024, Kabul, Afghanistan: WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy recently wrapped up a three-day visit to Kabul, Afghanistan, following the completion of her high-level mission with the Chair of the Polio Oversight Board and partners from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in neighboring Pakistan.
During her time in Afghanistan, Dr. Balkhy met with de facto authorities and health partners in Kabul to discuss critical health issues focusing on promoting equitable access to health care, empowering females and expanding health workforce education, addressing substance abuse, and eradicating polio.
As one of the two countries in which polio remains endemic, Afghanistan has made incremental progress since resumption of campaigns in November 2021. During her visit, Dr. Balkhy, together with Regional Director for South Asia Mr. Sanjay Wijeskera, engaged with partners and stakeholders to underscore WHO and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s commitment to closing the remaining gaps for polio eradication in the country and ending polio for good.
With just three cases reported this year and the virus restricted to the country’s East and South Regions, Afghanistan has its best opportunity to eradicate polio. The recent announcement by top leadership to reinstate house-to-house polio vaccination activities in the South Region is a key development that will enable the programme to reach more vulnerable children.
Dr. Balkhy