WHO highlights health struggles faced by returnees in Afghanistan

Kabul, Aug 24: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns over serious health service gaps affecting Afghan returnees, particularly those coming back from Pakistan and Iran, Khaama Press reported.
According to Khaama Press, citing the WHO report, between July 31 and August 15, this year, a total of 106,109 people returned to Afghanistan, with the majority, around 83.7 per cent, arriving from Iran.
Notably, the number of people crossing through the Torkham border, a transit route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, nearly tripled during this time.
WHO reported critical shortages at border entry points, including a lack of essential medicines, female healthcare workers, gender-sensitive services, trauma care, isolation facilities, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), Khaama Press reported.
In Torkham’s Omari camp, 566 outpatient consultations were conducted, primarily for respiratory illnesses and diarrhoea, and 20,582 people were vaccinated against polio and measles, as reported by Khaama Press.
At Islam Qala, a town in Afghanistan near the Iran border, 1,079 individuals received primary care, including 297 treated for trauma cases.
A total of 24,519 children under 10 were vaccinated during the reporting period, Khaama Press reported.
The Spin Boldak and Milak crossings, between the country and Pakistan, also saw integrated healthcare services provided, with 8,683 consultations and 22,711 polio vaccinations administered, as reported by Khaama Press.
As per Khaama Press, additionally, 134 children received oral polio vaccines; however, these locations still face major constraints, especially the lack of isolation spaces and female health staff.
Returnees with disabilities and those in need of mental health support face particularly severe challenges, especially at Milak. The WHO emphasised the urgent need for greater investment in healthcare infrastructure and the expansion of specialised services to better meet the needs of vulnerable returnees and improve public health outcomes in Afghanistan, as reported by Khaama Press.