Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes Staff
D.W.G. Kalani Tharanga is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Political Blogs.
Children on the Brink of Survival
In a heartbreaking account from Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, Amina, a mother who has already lost six children, clutches onto hope as her seventh child, seven month old Bibi Hajira, fights for her life. Bibi, suffering from severe acute malnutrition, is one of 3.2 million children battling this deadly condition across the country. The reality of Amina’s anguish is all too common, as she can only feed her children dry bread and warmed water.
The malnutrition ward at Jalalabad regional hospital tells the silent, devastating story of countless children teetering on the brink of survival. In one small room, 18 toddlers lie in seven beds, too weak to cry or even move. Among them, Bibi shares a bed with three year old Sana, whose mother passed away during childbirth, leaving her aunt Laila, who has already lost seven children, to care for her. In a nearby bed, three year old Ilham’s body is ravaged by malnutrition, his skin peeling as he clings to life. Tragically, one year old Asma, already in septic shock, dies shortly after our visit, her tiny frame unable to withstand the ravages of extreme poverty and lack of medical resources.
A Broken Healthcare System and Diminishing Aid
The healthcare crisis in Afghanistan has reached a critical point. Seven hundred children have died in the past six months at Jalalabad hospital alone, an alarming statistic that would be far higher without support from international organizations like the World Bank and UNICEF. However, funding for these life saving programs has drastically shrunk, a consequence of global political distractions and hesitation to fund a Taliban governed country.
Dr. Sikandar Ghani, a physician at the hospital, expressed frustration over the dire situation, lamenting that more children could be saved if the hospital had adequate medicines, facilities, and staff. Malnutrition is not the only threat preventable diseases like pneumonia are also claiming young lives. Six month old Umrah, battling severe pneumonia, passed away just days after our visit, further highlighting the collapse of Afghanistan’s healthcare system. Aid has been sporadic and insufficient, leaving millions of children like Bibi Hajira and Mohammed, a two year old boy who is stunted and unable to stand, without the help they desperately need.
With funding cuts and a rapidly deteriorating healthcare system, the future of Afghanistan’s children hangs in the balance. Aid programs, which have shown the potential to save lives, now face dramatic funding shortfalls, leaving countless children at risk of permanent disability or death. As the world watches, the silent suffering of Afghanistan’s malnourished and vulnerable children continues, awaiting a lifeline.
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