The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that years of instability have weakened Afghanistan’s healthcare system, causing diseases like hepatitis B and C to be largely overlooked. On Monday, July 28, 2025, the WHO emphasized the urgent need to remove barriers to care, prevention, and treatment of hepatitis in the country.
Many individuals in Afghanistan fall victim to hepatitis due to a lack of awareness about their condition, according to the WHO. Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO’s representative in Afghanistan, stated: “Many people in Afghanistan fall victim to hepatitis, not because the disease is untreatable, but because it is diagnosed too late.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the global impact in a post on X: “Every 30 seconds, someone loses their life due to severe liver disease or liver cancer caused by hepatitis.” He added: “If we act now, we can prevent 2.8 million deaths over the next five years.” This statement coincides with World Hepatitis Day on July 28, underscoring the need for immediate action.
You can read the Persian version of this news here:
سازمان جهانی صحت: بیثباتی، زردی را در افغانستان به تهدیدی پنهان بدل کرده است
