The Afghan Red Crescent Society said more than 30,000 Afghans are living with congenital heart defects and of those, about 14,000 patients have so far received treatment, including 2,002 children referred to hospitals inside and outside the country.
The organization released the figures in an annual briefing in Kabul on Wednesday.
Taliban-appointed officials for the organization said the charity has also provided mental health services to 2,383 people through six psychotherapy centers, noting that nearly 300 patients had recovered and returned to normal life.
Support for vulnerable groups has extended beyond health care. Across eight centers, more than 36,000 people — including widows, orphans, persons with disabilities and impoverished families — received financial aid, vocational training and subsistence support. In total, the group reported delivering health services to 3.8 million people nationwide.
The Red Crescent also highlighted its disaster relief efforts. In Herat Province, 288 earthquake-affected families in Golran district were resettled in newly built homes worth more than 102 million Afghanis. In all, the organization said 511,000 disaster victims received emergency food, cash and non-food assistance valued at 369 million Afghanis.
Altogether, the Red Crescent said, its programs have reached more than 4.6 million Afghans with aid spanning health care, clean water, food distribution and housing support.
