Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health says more than 644,000 children under the age of five have contracted seasonal illnesses since the beginning of the current year, highlighting growing health challenges as temperatures rise across the country.
Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said limited access to safe drinking water and sufficient food for communities affected by earthquakes and floods has been one of the main factors driving the increase in seasonal diseases.
Speaking to Afghanistan’s state television, which is controlled by the Taliban, Zaman said higher temperatures have led to a nationwide rise in seasonal illnesses, with large numbers of patients seeking treatment at hospitals each day.
Doctors say the growing caseload is placing additional pressure on healthcare facilities. Mohammad Arif Hasanzai, a physician at Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul, said the hospital receives around 200 children with seasonal illnesses every day and continues to provide treatment for patients with varying levels of severity. He urged families to use safe drinking water and hygienic food whenever possible.
Meanwhile, Saeedullah, a physician at a private hospital in Kabul, told Afghanistan International that public hospitals face severe shortages of medical resources and are struggling to meet the needs of patients, particularly children. He also linked the extreme heat to shortages of safe drinking water, electricity outages and a rise in illnesses such as diarrhea, claiming that many people are reluctant to speak publicly about these problems.
Separately, the World Health Organization has warned of the ongoing heatwave in Afghanistan and advised people to avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, remain in shaded areas, stay cool and drink plenty of water.
