Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

73pc of Afghans Threatened by Malaria: Minister

73pc of Afghans Threatened by Malaria: Minister

JALALABAD - Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz on Saturday said 73 percent of people lived in malaria endemic areas across Afghanistan, mostly in eastern Nangarhar province.
The minister was addressing a ceremony marking International Malaria Day in the capital of Nangarhar province. He said his ministry would pay special attention to reducing malaria cases in the country this year.
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The minister called distribution of mosquito protection nets and cheap treatment of people infected by malaria through mobile health teams among his ministry’s high priorities.
“Nangarhar is a major malaria-affected province where 71 percent of its residents are threatened by the disease, but we would decisively fight against the problem,” the minister said.
Nangarhar public health director Dr. Najibullah Kamawal said 73,000 malaria cases were registered in the eastern zone last year.
He said they started distributing mosquito protection nets to people in Jalalabad and 12 districts on Saturday.
Nangarhar Governor Salim Khan Kunduzi said malaria cases existed on a high level in Nangarhar and his own son was suffering from the disease.
He asked the public health minister to share the contract of constructing buildings for regional hospitals with the National Procurement Commission and finalise it.
Provincial council deputy head, Dr. Lal Mohammad Durrani, said the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) should increase budget for Nangarhar health sector and employ more health professionals in rural areas.
“There is insufficient staff at clinics in rural areas, which is a big problem of our people,” he said.
However, minister Feroz said there were more health professionals in Nangarhar than any other provinces. He said his ministry would try to increase the number of professionals in rural areas.
Feroz also promised to launch work on the construction of kidney treatment hospital in Nangarhar and provide more facilities to teaching hospital at Nangarhar University. (Pajhwok)