A high-level meeting brought together representatives from Qatar, Afghanistan, WHO, Unicef, donors, and other humanitarian partners in Doha to discuss Afghanistan’s temporary health priorities.
During the three-day meeting, health experts reviewed the current situation and gaps in health services and identified options to ensure health care for all Afghans. Also, it discussed the opportunities to improve health sector governance and coordination in general to address the humanitarian needs of children, women, and other vulnerable groups in Afghanistan.
WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Ahmed Al Mandhari stated that WHO is deeply concerned about many combined health threats facing Afghanistan such as malnutrition, measles, and other outbreaks, COVID-19, and displacement.
He expressed his thanks to Qatar for always being a key partner and supporter of the WHO response, pointing out that the organisation, in cooperation with its partners in Afghanistan, is committed to continuing and strengthening life-saving interventions for the people of Afghanistan.
For his part, Assistant Minister of Public Health for Health Affairs Dr. Saleh Ali Al Marri stated that the meeting was based on the cooperative partnership established by the State of Qatar with the WHO, Unicef, and partners, which provided great assistance in meeting the needs of vital humanitarian programs, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and disease outbreaks and providing vital support to vulnerable communities not only in Afghanistan but around the world.
He pointed out that since September, Qatar has provided critical support for humanitarian response operations in Afghanistan, adding that it provided essential life-saving medical supplies, including trauma and COVID-19 kits, that meet the needs of millions of people. He explained that this timely response is in line with Qatar’s humanitarian vision to enhance current efforts, contribute to universal health coverage and address global health challenges.
