The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health organized a meeting in Kabul to promote public awareness and strengthen efforts against HIV/AIDS, according to a ministry statement.
The session was attended by Abdul Wali Sediqi, Deputy for
Finance and Administration at the Ministry, senior ministry officials,
representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNDP, UNODC, and
media personnel.
Sediqi emphasized the importance of expanding public
knowledge to combat HIV/AIDS effectively and reiterated the ministry’s
commitment to providing equitable, quality healthcare services across all
health sectors.
Dr. Haider Khan Haider, Director General of Preventive
Medicine, described HIV/AIDS as a major global threat and stressed the need for
comprehensive preventive measures. He also called for increased public
awareness and the expansion of diagnostic and treatment services.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Shirin Del, head of Afghanistan’s National
Program for the Control of Communicable Diseases (HIV and Hepatitis), provided
an overview of the program’s activities and achievements in combating HIV/AIDS
in the country. WHO and UNDP representatives also briefed attendees on the
risks of the disease and strategies to prevent its spread.
According to ministry data, 300 new HIV cases have been
recorded in Afghanistan so far this year. Since the first reported case in 1989,
more than 400 deaths from HIV/AIDS have been documented in the country, the
United Nations reports.
