WHO Representative to Afghanistan Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador and Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Afghanistan Mrs Veronika Boskovic during the event to mark the additional funding. Photo credit: WHO

05 August 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan – 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.

WHO Representative to Afghanistan Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador and Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Afghanistan Mrs Veronika Boskovic visit the Provincial Public Health Laboratory in Matoon city, Khost province. Photo credit: WHO

“This support from the EU couldn’t have come at a more important time,” said WHO Representative in Afghanistan Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador during the event to mark the additional funding at the Provincial Public Health Laboratory in Matoon city, Khost province. “Across Afghanistan, too many families still struggle to get basic care, especially during emergencies. With this new contribution, we can sustain our ongoing support to the population, reach more people, respond faster to outbreaks and back the health workers saving lives every day. It’s not just about aid, it’s about staying close to communities and helping build a health system they can trust.”

Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Afghanistan Mrs Veronika Boskovic Pohar added: “Through this partnership with WHO, we aim at strengthening Afghanistan's capacity to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and health emergencies.  With an ongoing surge of migratory movements and the undeniable reality that viruses respect no borders, a stronger and more effective health security system in Afghanistan is a crucial investment in mitigating the risk of cross-border spread and safeguarding the health of populations.”

The new funding will also help the gradual transition of supported infectious disease hospitals and diagnostic laboratories into the national health security system by building health workforce capacity, integrating key functions into the national health system and reducing reliance on external support over time.

The reinforced WHO-EU collaboration will further their shared goals of ensuring that critical health services remain available and effective, especially in times of crisis, and building a more sustainable and locally led health care system for the people of Afghanistan. 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Nourhan El-Nagdy
Donor Visibility Officer, WHO Afghanistan
Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: +93 78 365 5635