Afghanistan: WHO and partners provide vital health care services to returnees in Torkham
07 July 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan – For the inhabitants of Kaskay, a remote village deep in the mountains of Gurbaz district in Khost province, seeing a doctor or accessing vaccinations for children often felt out of reach.
That changed on 12 December 2024 when a team from the World Health Organization (WHO)-supported Zanshora Sub-Centre arrived in the village to help remote communities access health care services.
“When we arrived we were warmly welcomed,” said WHO-supported community mobilizer Rahmanullah Atal. “The villagers, especially the elders, showed their appreciation by the way they greeted us. It was clear that trust was growing and the health needs of the village residents mounting.”
Rahmanullah gathered a group of men and spoke about vaccines, why they’re important, how they work and why some side effects like a mild fever are a good sign. Many of the villagers said they used to think vaccines were harmful but that listening to someone with whom they could relate had made a real difference.