KABUL (Pajhwok): The European Union has announced partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support a new cancer treatment centre in Afghanistan.
The EU emphasised the need for women’s health education to effectively address health challenges.
Without providing details, the EU wrote on its X handle, in collaboration with WHO in Afghanistan, it is supporting a new cancer treatment centre in the country.
On Tuesday, on World Cancer Day, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced that construction work is ongoing on a 200-bed cancer treatment hospital and would be put into services in near future.
Sharafat Zaman, spokesman for MoPH, said a 50-bed cancer treatment hospital would be inaugurated in eastern Nangarhar province as well in addition to Kabul.
According to him, the ministry plans to establish cancer treatment centres in different regions of the country.
He noted that cancer cases have been rising worldwide, and Afghanistan has also seen an increase in the cases. Without giving specific details, he noted that last year, nearly 6,000 new cancer cases were registered by the ministry.
Furthermore, 42,000 individuals previously diagnosed with cancer have visited healthcare centers for treatment.
The European Union also wrote on its X account that women’s education in health sciences is essential to effectively tackle health challenges.
Soon after returning to power in 2021, IEA banned girls above the sixth grade from going to schools and then extended the ban to university education.
Both domestic and international parties have urged the Islamic Emirate to lift the restrictions on girls’ education.
IEA has repeatedly said the ban is temporary and girls will be allowed to study once a suitable environment is created.
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