High-Level Health Meeting in Kabul Focuses on Polio Eradication and Strengthening Afghanistan’s Health System

Kabul, Afghanistan – The Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, H.E. Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, convened a high-level meeting with a joint delegation comprising senior representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and regional leaders working in polio eradication.

Present at the meeting were Deputy Minister for Health Services Mawlawi Abdul Wali Haqqani; WHO Regional Director Dr. Hanan Balkhy; UNICEF Regional Director Sanjay Wijesekera; representatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; UNICEF Afghanistan Country Representative Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale; and Dr. Hamid Reza Jafari, the Regional Director for Polio Eradication in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, along with several other key officials.

The discussions focused on the expansion of healthcare services, the strengthening of Afghanistan’s health system in critical areas, the promotion of transparency in healthcare delivery, and the implementation of service provision based on national priorities. Furthermore, participants addressed the prevention of communicable diseases, the urgent need to eliminate polio, and the importance of fostering strong coordination between health stakeholders. The meeting also emphasized prioritizing the engagement of Afghan scientific professionals and enhancing the capacity of healthcare and diagnostic personnel across the country.