WHO Afghanistan has received €7 million in additional funding from the European Union (EU) to expand, strengthen and sustain Afghanistan’s preparedness, surveillance and response to health outbreaks and nutrition emergencies.

The funding comes as part of the ongoing EU-WHO partnership, thanks to which around 240 000 outpatients received consultations (54% female), more than 20 000 received inpatient services (54% female) and over 2380 critical intensive care patients (52% female) were treated in 5 supported regional infectious disease hospitals across Afghanistan. In addition, more than 28 000 children under 5 received urgent, lifesaving care at 40 inpatient departments treating children with severe acute malnutrition.

The additional financing will allow WHO to further strengthen diagnostic capacity through continued support to 28 public laboratories across the country, improve surveillance and early warning systems, and support better case management of infectious diseases across 6 regional integrated hospitals. It will also reinforce infection prevention and control practices and expand inpatient treatment at 43 therapeutic feeding units for malnourished children with complications.