Team News Riveting
Kabul, December 29
The Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is now battling on the other front, to combat the new COVID variant Omicron that is fast spreading in the neighbouring country.
Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide the omicron’s testing kits for Afghanistan as the country, which is plunged into economic crises, lacks even basic equipment.
The spokesperson for the MoPH, Javed Hazher, confirmed that Afghanistan lacks omicron testing kits. “The omicron is not distinguishable by the PCR machines that we have now, it requires more developed machinery. We have contacted the WHO and they have promised to provide these machines for us by the end of January 2022,” he said.
Officials at the Afghan-Japan hospital, one of the COVID-19 treatment centers in Kabul, expressed deep concern over lack of medical supplies at the hospital.
“There are many problems in the hospital: medicine, oxygen and medical equipment are not sufficiently stocked. Our staff has not been paid for several months,” said Zalmai Reshteen, director of the Afghan-Japan Hospital.
Meanwhile, health workers say that fighting against COVID-19 should not be ignored as Afghanistan is struggling with waves of economic and political challenges, saying that neglecting COVID-19 will cause many people to be infected with the omicron variant.
Based on official reports, around 16,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Afghanistan and more that 7,300 Afghans died of the disease.
