Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, cascading humanitarian and economic crises are threatening the hard-won social and development gains made over the last two decades. Amid significant humanitarian needs, Afghans face constant threats to their human rights, jeopardizing access to essential services, including health services, limiting opportunities to prosper and disproportionately barring Afghan women, girls, and other marginalized groups from full participation in society.
These complex challenges seep into all aspects of Afghan society, including in health. Afghanistan’s health, water, and sanitation sectors are increasingly fragile, with Afghan women and girls facing disproportionately limited access to these services. Health assistance provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supports a network of health clinics that provides a basic health service package to more than 70 percent of the population. Our health assistance includes support for maternal and child health, reproductive health, tuberculosis, COVID-19 prevention and response, procurement of essential healthcare supplies and commodities, and private sector engagement. We also work closely with United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in areas such as basic health service delivery, polio eradication, support for national disease surveillance and rapid response, immunizations, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. We use data to inform our work and reach locations where we can make the greatest impact.
