Five healthcare centers in Daikundi province in central Afghanistan have been shuttered, exacerbating an already dire health situation, according to local sources.
The closures, which have affected the districts of Ashterli, Khedir, Kiti, and Shahristan, were reportedly due to the suspension of activities by the Global Relief Institute, a key supporter of these facilities.
Residents confirmed that the Taliban halted the operations of the Global Relief Institute, leaving vast areas of the province without essential medical services. Mohammad Amir Mubaligh, a resident of Khushk village in Ashterli district, noted that the Deh Arous health center has been non-operational for the past five months, depriving half of the district’s population of healthcare. The center had also served residents of Nili city and the neighboring districts of Shahristan and Ashterli.
“During this hot season, the incidence of various diseases has increased,” Mubaligh said. “But with the health center closed and others located far away, people are facing serious health challenges.”
The residents of Daikundi have voiced frustration over the closures and are calling on the Taliban authorities to allow the resumption of the Global Relief Institute’s operations. “People are demanding that the current regime support institutions and facilitate their activities,” said Nasser Amiri, another local resident. The ongoing hot weather has led to a surge in illnesses, particularly diarrhea among children, amplifying concerns about the lack of accessible healthcare.
The situation is further compounded by a shortage of health centers, a lack of female specialist doctors, and a scarcity of medicines across Daikundi. Locals blame the Taliban for neglecting the province’s health sector, saying the closures have worsened the region’s health crisis.
