The Islamic Development Bank has committed $1.1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve maternal and child health services in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province, according to a WHO statement.
The funding aims to enhance critical health services for newborns and mothers.
“We are grateful to donors and partners for enabling us to deliver life-saving health services to those most in need,” said Luo Dapeng, WHO’s representative in Afghanistan.
Paata Chikvaidze, Coordinator for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and Gender Equality and Rights (GER) programs emphasized the importance of high-quality maternal and child health services. “Providing these services is vital to strengthen health service delivery and reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Afghanistan,” Chikvaidze stated.
Afghanistan has long faced critical shortages in healthcare infrastructure and professionals, particularly in rural areas like Bamiyan. Maternal and child health services are among the most impacted, with high rates of maternal and infant mortality.
