Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate Calls for Aid for Thalassemia Patients

The Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan held a public awareness event in Kabul to mark World Thalassemia Day, calling for increased domestic and international support to treat patients across the country.

Mawlawi Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister of Health, urged international organizations and partners to increase assistance, equipment, and capacity building to improve treatment services. Officials emphasized that thalassemia is a hereditary genetic blood disorder that requires continuous blood transfusions, noting a serious shortage in blood bank reserves despite the existence of specialized treatment services in Kabul and other provinces.

Reports on the total number of registered patients vary slightly. Some sources state there are more than 12,000 patients nationwide, while others report 11,260 registered cases. In Kabul specifically, approximately 1,500 patients are registered.

Niaz Gul Niazmand, head of the National Blood Bank, stated that the Central Blood Bank provided 13,561 pints of blood to thalassemia patients over the past year, serving an average of nearly 50 patients daily. The event aimed to promote blood donation and raise public awareness to support those suffering from the condition.