Thread by @DrTedros

.@WHOEMRO Director Al Mandhari and I met with the Taliban leadership to discuss the current health situation in #Afghanistan and the needs of Afghan #healthworkers to prevent the health system from collapsing.

The acute challenges of #Afghanistan's health system are: lack of equipment, medicines and personnel; funds needed to continue the Sehatmandi programme and pay #healthworkers; and brain drain. All these are already causing deaths among Afghan people.

The pause in funding of the Sehatmandi programme has caused disruptions in access to healthcare, especially for mothers and children in rural areas. Over 2300 health facilities, funded through the programme, are at risk of closing or reducing services.

We visited the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan National Hospital in Kabul, whose #healthworkers treated many people tragically injured in the recent airport attack. They are facing an acute shortage of medical instruments, equipment and medicines. #StayAndDeliver

My heart broke hearing that nurses, who have been working day and night, haven't received salaries in three months. They are doing the most invaluable job in the most difficult circumstances - saving lives! We must support them for their needs.

My heart broke hearing that nurses, who have been working day and night, haven't received salaries in three months. They are doing the most invaluable job in the most difficult circumstances - saving lives! We must #StayAndDeliver support for their needs.

We also met Naseema while she was receiving critical care in the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Hospital. But there are many more Afghan people in need of healthcare. We must #StayAndDeliver:
-Funding for the Sehatmandi programme
-Needed medical supplies
-Training for health personnel

.@WHO has been supporting the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan National Hospital through our major trauma programme, including the provision of supplies, equipment and training. We reassured the medical team that we will #StayAndDeliver further help to the best of our abilities.

Health is a service that needs to be continued at all times. If #Afghanistan's health system collapses, the tragedy will be worse and many more lives will be lost. We can prevent this from happening, together.