More than 644,000 children under the age of five have contracted seasonal illnesses in Afghanistan since the beginning of the current year, according to the Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health, as extreme heat and deteriorating living conditions place increasing pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said limited access to safe drinking water and adequate food among communities affected by earthquakes and floods has been a major factor behind the rise in seasonal diseases. Speaking to Afghanistan’s state-run television, he said soaring temperatures have led to a steady increase in illnesses nationwide, with hospitals receiving large numbers of patients every day.
Medical workers say healthcare facilities are coming under growing strain. Mohammad Arif Hasanzai, a physician at Kabul’s Indira Gandhi Hospital, said the facility treats around 200 children suffering from seasonal illnesses each day and continues to provide care for patients with varying levels of severity. He urged families to ensure children consume clean drinking water and hygienically prepared food whenever possible.
However, Saeedullah, a physician at a private hospital in Kabul, told Afghanistan International that public hospitals are facing severe shortages of medical supplies and lack the capacity to meet growing demand, particularly among young children. He also linked the rise in diarrheal diseases to unsafe drinking water, electricity shortages and prolonged high temperatures, adding that many people are reluctant to speak publicly about these challenges.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned residents about the ongoing heatwave, advising people to avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, remain in shaded areas, keep their bodies cool and drink sufficient amounts of water.
The latest figures underscore the mounting public health challenges facing Afghanistan, where extreme weather, underfunded healthcare services and limited humanitarian resources continue to leave millions of vulnerable children at heightened risk.
