Hanan Balkhy, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, says that nearly 150 health centers have been forced to close since the beginning of 2026 due to funding shortages.

She also reported that more than 22 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance, while 14.4 million people are in need of healthcare services.

In a post on X, Balkhy wrote: "This means that health workers are less able to vaccinate children, mothers are less able to find safe care and patients find it more challenging to access essential health services. These losses cannot be overlooked."

Sadiq Zahirzai, a physician, called on the World Health Organization to expand its support for provincial health facilities.

"We urge the World Health Organization to provide greater support to healthcare centers in the provinces and help meet their operational needs."

Sayed Shah, a resident of Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand province, has brought his two-year-old son to Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital in Kabul for treatment. His exhausted appearance reflects the hardship he has endured, saying the lack of pediatric specialists and standard medical services in Helmand forced him to seek treatment in the capital.

Speaking to TOLOnews, he said: "There is a large hospital in Bost, Helmand, but my child could not be treated there. I then went to a private hospital, but I couldn't even afford to buy a single tablet. People there are under tremendous strain, so we came to Kabul for treatment."