The Ministry of Public Health says over the last two years, due to the efforts of the ministry and the cooperation of international institutions, the spread of many diseases, including HIV/Aids, have been eradicated or decreased.
Marking World Aids Day in Kabul on Sunday, health officials said however that the lack of facilities and diagnostic equipment is one of the ministry’s major problems.
“Unfortunately, we do not have diagnostic services in all provinces, and if they are available in some provinces, the services are not suitable for patients,” said Sharif Ahmad Ahmadzai, head of the national control program of the health ministry.
Meanwhile, the representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) also attended the meeting and said based on statistics, 12,000 people in the country are HIV positive.
“In Afghanistan, this disease currently exists at a very low level. Based on the statistics of the United Nations Development Program, more than 12,000 people in Afghanistan are infected with HIV, of which 1,162 adults and children are receiving treatment, and we will cooperate with our Afghan partners,” said a UNDP representative.
Currently, 9.2 million people in the world do not have access to HIV or AIDS treatment, and according to reports, 1,700 people die of this disease every day.
