Kabul, Afghanistan, 16 March 2021 – Today, ahead of schools re-opening on 21 March, the Ministry of Public Health has prioritized teachers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine so that schools stay open, teachers stay safe and children keep learning. COVAX – a coalition of partners including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI),...

Kabul, Afghanistan, 15 March, 2021 – The Government of Japan has pledged approximately US$ 1.8 million (187 million Japanese Yen) for a project to strengthen the response capacity for infectious diseases in Afghanistan. Mr Takahashi Yoshiaki, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan, and Dr David Lai, Representative, Officer in...

Kabul, Afghanistan, 8 March 2021 – Today, Afghanistan received COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO. This is a historic step towards the goal of ensuring equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in...

Seven months since Afghanistan’s first COVID-19 case, women like Farida sustain the response. “I chose to continue to do public health awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to help save people’s lives and continue to serve my people,” says Farida, a polio worker and volunteer for the COVID-19 response.  Seven months since the first...

3 February 2021 —The Government of Japan has announced its decisionto provide US$ 122.2 million to support humanitarian and developmentprogrammes in Afghanistan. Through this newdisbursement, sourced from Japan’s fiscal year 2020 supplementary budget,an array of humanitarian and development assistance projects will beconducted. This is a...

26 January, 2021 – The EU-Delegation in Kabul announced an additional support of 35 million euros to tackle the ongoing pandemic and mitigate its socioeconomic impacts in Afghanistan. Since the start of the pandemic, the EU has mobilized almost 147 million euros to address the immediate health crisis and provide humanitarian assistance to people in...

Kabul, 18 January 2021 – The Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO, will begin the first national polio immunization campaign of 2021 today. The 5-day campaign will aim to vaccinate over 9.9 million children under the age of 5 across the country. As efforts to eradicate polio are intensified, declining...

Volunteers in north eastern Afghanistan. Photo: Shaim Shahin/WHO Afghanistan20 December 2020 – Vaccinators tackle winter conditions and challenging contexts during Afghanistan’s last polio campaign of the year. On a wintery November day, vaccinators across Afghanistan wrapped up warm, checked that they had facemasks and hand sanitizer, and...

KABUL, Afghanistan, 24 October 2019 – As the world commemorates World Polio Day, the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF, WHO and partners are taking a moment to recognize the tremendous efforts made by polio eradication frontline workers, who continue to work under difficult and challenging conditions to reach every child. “Today, as we mark World...

Dr Elaha, at 22 years old, is a medical graduate and a District Polio Officer. She’s also helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan.   “COVID-19 has affected both our work life and personal life. When I joined the polio team, I had plans to take initiative and look for innovative ways to fight polio, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic all...