KABUL: Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), met with Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, to discuss ongoing health cooperation and priorities in the country’s healthcare sector.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was also attended by the head of the Gates Foundation, a representative of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, the regional director of UNICEF, and the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The statement said that Dr. Balkhy reaffirmed the World Health Organization’s commitment to continuing its support for Afghanistan’s healthcare sector. Describing polio as a global concern and called for the Islamic Emirate’s continued support for the successful implementation of polio vaccination campaigns aimed at eradicating the disease.
Meanwhile, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed WHO’s health assistance and pledged full support for polio vaccination campaigns. He also emphasized the need to strengthen Afghanistan’s public health system, establish advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment centers, equip healthcare facilities, and enhance the capacity of medical personnel.
The foreign minister further stressed that healthcare, trade, and humanitarian affairs should remain separate from political considerations to ensure that international assistance and health services are delivered fairly and effectively to those in need.
The participants underscored the importance of continued international cooperation to improve healthcare services and address Afghanistan’s humanitarian and public health challenges.
WHO Regional Director meets Muttaqi, reaffirms support for Afghanistan’s health sector
