Negative Impact Of US Aid Suspension On Polio Campaign In Afghanistan, Says WHO Official
Hanan Balkhi, a senior official at the World Health Organisation (WHO), warned of the negative impact of the suspension of US aid on the polio eradication campaign in Afghanistan.
Referring to polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said that this measure poses a serious threat to the fight against polio eradication.
The head of the WHO's regional division stressed on the important role of US relief assistance in an online news conference.
Balkhi raised her concerns about the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organisation, adding that this issue will have a serious impact on vulnerable groups in Afghanistan.
The polio vaccine is vital for Afghanistan and should be used to prevent the spread of the disease, she said.
According to the World Health Organisation, at least 25 cases of polio have been recorded in Afghanistan in 2024. This comes as the Taliban claim that there are no positive cases of polio in the country.
Polio Free Afghanistan had announced on January 26 that a new round of polio vaccination campaigns will soon begin in 16 provinces of Afghanistan.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of all foreign aid for nearly 90 days.
This action has raised concerns about the spread of poverty, the strengthening of food insecurity, and the fragility of Afghanistan's health situation.
