Afghanistan: Medical needs urgent as ever after Taliban takeover

MSF operations in Afghanistan

Increase of patients in Herat clinic

In Herat, in western Afghanistan, the MSF team has seen a slight reduction in the number of patients arriving at our COVID-19 treatment center and inpatient therapeutic feeding center (ITFC). However, at our clinic in Kahdestan—on the outskirts of Herat, where we provide outpatient care, treatment for noncommunicable diseases, and sexual and reproductive services—we have seen an increase in patients after other clinics in the area suspended their activities.

Key figures:

• On August 15 and 16, we provided 200 patient consultations at the Covid-19 treatment center—44 patients were admitted in severe and critical condition
• Between August 9 and 15 August, 47 children were admitted to the inpatient therapeutic feeding center; 20 percent were younger than six-months-old
• Between August 9 and 16, we provided 555 consultations at our Kahdestan clinic

Displaced people in Kandahar

During the fighting, MSF was able to continue its care for patients living with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) by offering remote consultations and providing buffer stocks of medication so that they could avoid crossing frontlines to access care. 

The Haji camp for internally displaced people—where 5,000 people were staying—is now largely empty. MSF is looking to relocate its temporary clinic to a location closer to our TB center so that we can continue providing health care to children under five years old. The main health issues we saw in Haji camp were diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, anemia, and eye and skin infections.

Key figures:

• We treated 179 patients at our temporary clinic in Haji camp
• Between August 10 and 16, our TB center admitted three new patients and carried out 28 outpatient consultations

Accessing maternity care in Khost

MSF has continued providing care to pregnant women and newborns in our maternity hospital and in the eight comprehensive health centers (CHCs) we support in Khost. In July, we helped to deliver 1,450 babies in the maternity hospital and more than 870 in the CHCs.

Recent instability in Khost has made it difficult for people to access health facilities, so MSF expanded its admission criteria beyond complicated obstetrics to ensure access to safe maternal and neonatal care for the community. We saw a reduction in patients during that period, but the number of admissions is now returning to normal.

Key figures:

• Between August 15 and 17 August MSF admitted 100 pregnant women and assisted 77 deliveries

Trauma care in Kunduz

The situation in Kunduz is now calm. On August 16, we moved all patients from the Kunduz Emergency Trauma Unit (KETU) to the new Kunduz Trauma Center (KTC), which has been under construction since 2018. The KTC will initially have 30 beds and one operating theater. We are treating people injured in accidents as well as people wounded in the fighting.

Key figures:

• Between August 9 and 14 we treated 63 patients, the majority for wound care

Addressing a spectrum of needs in Lashkar Gah

The situation in Lashkar Gah has also stabilized, and people who delayed seeking medical care during active fighting are now coming for care. Over the past few days, the emergency room has been full—many people have respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems, and trauma-related injuries related to the fighting or road traffic accidents.

Key figures:

• Between August 12 and 16 we assisted 215 deliveries (we’re currently assisting around 50 deliveries each day), provided 105 surgical procedures, and treated 65 war-wounded people
• On August 17 we provided 815 consultations in our emergency room and are currently providing care to 300 people in our inpatient department

MSF is a medical humanitarian organization operating under the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. Since the 1980s, MSF has provided medical care throughout Afghanistan in areas under the control of a variety of political and armed factions. In Afghanistan, MSF relies solely on private funding and does not accept funds from any government for its work.