At least 1,700 people have been diagnosed with thalassemia in Nangarhar province, sources within the province’s health sector on Tuesday.
Thalassemia cases are rising in both the city and districts of Nangarhar, according to a source in the Taliban-run public health department.
The source warned that if preventive measures are not implemented, the number of patients and even deaths from the disease could rise.
Those diagnosed include women, children, and men who have sought treatment at the provincial hospital.
Currently, there is no precise data on the number of deaths caused by thalassemia or the number of recovered patients; however, most patients are children who have been suffering from the disease for years.
The source said that Nangarhar province lacks adequately equipped hospitals and specialist doctors to effectively prevent and treat thalassemia.
Meanwhile, families of patients with thalassemia complained about their economic struggles and urged the Taliban to establish specialized treatment centers for the disease.
Rozi Gul, 45, and 10-year-old Norohab have been battling thalassemia for the past three years.
They said that their lives have become increasingly difficult due to the high cost of treatment.
A local doctor Obaidullah Quraishi described thalassemia as a hereditary and genetic disease related to anemia.
He explained that a defect in the hemoglobin gene reduces the number of red blood cells, resulting in insufficient oxygen reaching the body and causing severe anemia in patients.
He added that patients need to receive regular blood transfusions depending on the severity of their condition.
According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health, more than one million people across Afghanistan are affected by thalassemia.
