What is the health care status of Afghanistan?
Since 2002, the government has made considerable progress in increasing access to health care services. Afghanistan’s health care sector has faced many challenges in the past four years, but the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) continues to move Afghanistan forward. Afghanistan has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. One of every four Afghan children dies before the age of five. Average life expectancy for adults is estimated at 46 years. Further reinforcing these problems, the country is facing a chronic shortage of trained doctors. There is currently one physician for every 50,000 people, and an estimated 40 percent of the Afghan population has no access to primary health care services. By rebuilding the health system and the routine immunization program, the Government of Afghanistan and its international partners are bringing basic services and health education to under-served communities; mainly focusing on maternal and child health, hygiene, water and sanitatio
