Like much of Afghanistan, Herat is suffering from the crumbing of the healthcare system. Health workers have not received their salaries for months. International aid has been largely put on standby following the takeover of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, also known as the Taliban) on 15 August 2021, resulting in the poor functioning or closing of many health facilities. The third wave of COVID-19 is practically over, but the fourth wave looms large already and Covid-19 vaccination coverage remains extremely low. MSF has been working in Herat since 2018 has significantly expanded its operations in 2021, to respond to increased needs in the area.
MSF has been running a clinic for internally displaced people (IDPs) and the local population in Herat since December 2018. The clinic offers general consultations, including for non-communicable diseases, screening and treatment of malnutrition, ante- and post-natal consultations, as well as childhood vaccinations and health promotion sessions to the displaced people living in Shaidayee (currently on standby) and Kahdestan. Once the fighting ended, between August and September 2021 the clinic saw a significant increase in the number of patients, as other health providers in the area suspended their activities. Numbers subsequently settled as some nearby facilities reopened, but remain consistently high, with almost 2,000 consultations per week, 25% of which are for children under five.