For many people in western Afghanistan, accessing hepatitis testing and treatment is challenging. When specialized services are far away, and families struggle to pay for transport, medical visits, tests and medicines, the obstacles can seem insurmountable.

With funding from the European Union (EU), the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting infectious-disease services in Herat, helping more patients receive the treatment they need. The hospital serves as a specialized referral facility for patients from Herat and surrounding provinces.

Seya Moy, 32, lives in Shindand District, more than 100 km from Herat city. She visited several local health providers but her condition continued to worsen. She then travelled to Herat for further diagnosis and treatment. Paying for the journey and related medical expenses put enormous strain on the family budget.

When her symptoms became more serious she was admitted to the 150-bed Herat Infectious Disease Hospital where doctors assessed her condition, carried out the necessary tests and started treatment for Hepatitis C. She received comprehensive care and continued medical follow-up throughout her stay. When WHO met her after 20 days in hospital, her condition had improved and her strength was returning.

Viral hepatitis is a major a health challenge in Afghanistan. “The 2025 national hepatitis data show that 43 161 hepatitis B positive patients were recorded through reporting health facilities across Afghanistan,” said Dr Abdur Rahman Shirindil, Head of the Afghanistan National Programme for AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Hepatitis. “We are currently able to provide treatment to around 5% of these patients.”