The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday inaugurated a 50-bed rehabilitation center for women and children in Afghanistan’s Balkh Province.
The facility, opened by Hannan Balkhi, the WHO’s regional director, aims to address the escalating crisis of drug addiction in the country.
According to the WHO, the center plans to rehabilitate 620 women and 120 children over the next 10 months, providing essential support to help them recover and reintegrate into their communities.
“Addiction is a serious issue in Afghanistan,” Mr. Balkhi said during the opening ceremony. “With the support of donors and partners, we are committed to offering the necessary care to patients and ensuring their safe return to their families and communities. Together, we can build a better future for the people of Afghanistan.”
The drug addiction crisis in Afghanistan
The WHO estimates that more than four million people in Afghanistan suffer from substance use disorders. The organization has called for urgent, coordinated action to combat the growing crisis.
Comprehensive strategies and strengthened international cooperation, the WHO said, are essential to finding sustainable solutions for affected populations.
Drug addiction is one of Afghanistan’s most pressing public health challenges, claiming hundreds of lives each year.
While Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium, the country has increasingly become one of its primary consumers. However, existing rehabilitation facilities are insufficient to address the needs of the growing number of people seeking help.
