Free Surgical Care Provided to Afghan Children with Heart Conditions
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Kabul, Dec 14 (NationPress) A total of 404 Afghan children diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) have received complimentary surgical treatment in the capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, over the past nine months, as reported by Mawlawi Mudassir Hamraz, spokesperson for the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), on Saturday.
Hamraz stated, "The Afghan Red Crescent Society has made arrangements for free medical treatment for 404 children suffering from congenital heart defects in the last nine months, while nearly 30,500 Afghan children with CHD, registered nationwide, are in immediate need of assistance," according to local media.
The cost of treating each child ranges from $750 to $2,350, which is entirely funded by the ARCS, as reported by Xinhua and cited by private media outlet Tolo News.
Most of the children who have received treatment come from low-income families that cannot afford medical expenses due to severe economic challenges.
Unfortunately, thousands of other children suffering from CHD remain on the waiting list for treatment.
In a related health initiative, authorities in Kandahar province, located in southern Afghanistan, recently incinerated 10 tons of expired medicines and food items, urging local drug shopkeepers to refrain from selling outdated products, as stated by the provincial director on Friday.
The director noted that the collected expired goods had been gathered from local drug stores over the past six months, and the initiative will continue.
This action is part of the Afghan authorities' efforts to guarantee the safety of medicines and food products. Similar actions have been taken in various cities, including the capital, Kabul, in recent months.
Moreover, polio vaccination campaigns are actively taking place throughout the country. According to the Ministry of Public Health, there have been no confirmed cases of polio in Afghanistan in 2024, and millions of children have already been vaccinated.
Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail, spokesperson for the ministry, has called on tribal leaders, religious scholars, and parents to support the polio vaccination workers in effectively carrying out the campaign.
