AGP Executive Report

Cancer Care: Kabul reports a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine says the oral drug daraxonrasib nearly doubles survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have RAS mutations, with common side effects including rash and diarrhea. Medicines Access: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health has agreed with Russian firm Pharmasyntez to start medicine exports this summer, with first shipments expected within two months—patients stress the need for quality drugs to protect treatment outcomes. Road Safety & Emergency Care: In Laghman province, a truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan crashed after the driver fell asleep, killing at least 22 people (including 10 children) and injuring 36 who were taken to hospitals. Mental Health: Uruzgan authorities detained a man accused of attempting suicide, with officials pointing to stressors like unemployment, poverty, and limited access to care. Tobacco Prevention: WHO marks World No Tobacco Day, warning tobacco harms are widespread in Afghanistan and urging stronger action, especially as naswar use and youth uptake rise. Energy for Health & Schools: UNDP says rural Afghanistan’s electricity is unreliable and costly, limiting school hours and health services, while a SESEHA project is expanding power for education and care. Nutrition for Women: UNICEF highlights iron and folic acid supplements to prevent anemia among adolescent girls and women, supported by EU-backed efforts to reach those most in need. Gender & Education Restrictions: A Taliban cleric in Kabul says girls’ and women’s schooling is “forbidden,” allowing only narrow religious topics under strict conditions.

Road Safety & Public Health: A truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan overturned on the Kabul–Nangarhar highway in Laghman, killing at least 22 people (including 10 children and five women) and injuring about 36; officials said the driver fell asleep and victims were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar. Maternal & Child Health: In Ghor’s Ferozkoh, women report side effects from contraceptives used for birth spacing, while doctors stress that spacing pregnancies can protect mothers and newborns. Nutrition & Women’s Health: UNICEF highlights iron and folic acid supplements to prevent anemia among adolescent girls and women, noting health workers are trying to deliver them regularly with EU support. Tobacco Control: WHO marked World No Tobacco Day urging stronger action in Afghanistan, warning tobacco companies use sweet flavors and deceptive marketing to hook users, especially young people. Energy & Health Access: UNDP says unreliable electricity in rural Afghanistan limits school hours and weakens health services, with a project in Laghman supporting a school for 250 students (96 girls). Medicine Supply: Russian firm Pharmasyntez plans to start exporting medicines to Afghanistan this summer after an agreement with Afghan public health authorities. Gender Rights & Child Protection: UN documents 21 cases of conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in 2025 attributed to Taliban officials, and protests in Norway condemn Taliban recognition of child marriage as a threat to girls’ futures. Food Security: WFP warns hunger is worsening as aid funding falls, saying 17.4 million people need urgent food help and millions of women and children may need malnutrition treatment in 2026.

Road Safety & Emergency Care: A truck carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan overturned on the Kabul–Jalalabad highway in Laghman province, killing at least 22 people (including 10 children and five women) and injuring around 36; officials say the driver fell asleep, and the wounded were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar. Public Health & Vaccination: UNICEF says the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is backing routine vaccination and polio eradication in Afghanistan, where nine polio cases were reported last year; a new 2026 campaign aims to vaccinate about 8.3 million children under five across 20 provinces. Women’s Health & Protection: A UN report to the Security Council documents 21 cases of Taliban-related sexual violence against women in 2025, including rape, forced marriage and forced nudity, while humanitarian funding cuts have reduced safe spaces and survivor support, including medical and psychosocial care. Local Incident: In Nuristan’s Parun, a car plunged into a river, leaving four passengers missing and the driver injured; rescue efforts are ongoing.

Medicine Access: Kandahar residents warn that Pakistan medicine import bans and trade/transit suspensions have sharply reduced drug availability while prices and counterfeit-quality risks rise, with shortages reported for common cold/fever, antibiotics, insulin, blood pressure medicines, IV fluids, children’s syrups, asthma inhalers and heart drugs. Public Health & Disaster Safety: WHO in Afghanistan urges people to treat flood precautions seriously even after waters recede, advising risk checks, staying away from flood-prone areas, keeping homes clean and dry, and seeking mental health support if needed. Humanitarian Aid Delivery: UN-linked reporting highlights growing obstacles to humanitarian assistance reaching Afghanistan, with WFP warning that disruptions to food supplies for malnourished mothers and children are worsening. Women’s Health & Rights: Multiple pieces focus on menstruation taboo and the urgent need for education and open discussion, including the hidden health risks tied to poverty and lack of safe menstrual supplies. Healthcare Workforce & Training (Global): Brattleboro Retreat’s doctoral psychology internship program is reaccredited by the American Psychological Association through 2035, supporting mental health training for rural and underserved communities. Security & Health System Strain: Coverage notes Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian and socioeconomic pressures under hard-border, security-first policies, with knock-on effects for welfare and access.

Humanitarian Access: The UN says aid delivery to Afghanistan is getting harder amid Middle East tensions, with WFP warning that port restrictions and shipping disruptions are cutting food stocks for malnourished mothers and children. Health Supply Shock: In Kandahar, pharmacists report medicine shortages and price spikes after Pakistan medicine imports were halted, with drugs for fever, infections, diabetes, blood pressure, children’s illnesses, insulin, IV fluids, and heart conditions becoming scarce or more expensive. Flood Safety: WHO urges Afghans to treat flood risks seriously even after waters recede, advising people to avoid flood-prone areas, stay away from floodwater, keep homes clean and dry, and seek mental health support if needed. Menstrual Health & Education: Multiple pieces highlight Afghanistan’s menstruation taboo and the urgent need to educate boys and girls, breaking shame and fear that keep many from asking questions or getting proper health guidance. Military Medicine Innovation: The US Army is field-testing a lower-limb exoskeleton (IBEX) to help injured soldiers stand, walk, and keep fighting when evacuation is delayed—an advance that could shape battlefield care. Regional Health Context: Russia and the Afghan Taliban sign a military cooperation agreement, underscoring shifting regional dynamics that can affect security and, indirectly, health access.

Maternal Health: New reporting warns global progress on maternal mortality is slowing, with conflict-hit countries including Afghanistan among the hardest affected. Women’s Health & Hygiene: World Menstrual Hygiene Day coverage highlights how Afghan girls face fear and shame at first menstruation due to limited education and access to care, with separate reporting calling expired or low-quality sanitary pads a hidden health threat. Health Access & Services: UNICEF says 2,400 health centers stayed operational across Afghanistan in 2025, while other updates note ongoing humanitarian pressure and health-center rebuilding efforts. Public Health Risk: Ahead of Eid, health experts urge Congo fever precautions and warn of increased Crimean-Congo fever risk during animal sacrifice periods. Pharma & Supply: Herat’s pharmaceutical industry is seeing sharp growth, and Afghanistan is expanding drug imports as new pharma players enter the market. Nutrition: Coverage also points to nutrition gaps, including policy-driven food support cuts hitting vulnerable communities.

Menstrual Hygiene Day in Afghanistan: Girls in Kabul and Faryab describe first periods marked by fear, shame, and lack of prior health education, with school closures and limited access to sanitary products worsening both physical and mental wellbeing. Public Health & Rights: UN Women urges the Taliban to protect Afghan women and girls from violence and discrimination, calling for safe access to justice and full legal rights amid ongoing restrictions on education and work. Drug Safety & Addiction Concerns: Residents in Kabul warn about a growing market for intoxicating pills, saying poverty and joblessness are pushing youth toward addiction and that the trade is being enabled by some insiders. Healthcare Supply & Industry: Herat’s pharmaceutical production is rising after a ban on Pakistani medicine imports, with local factories expanding output of medicines and serums and aiming toward greater self-sufficiency. Digital Health & Youth: Psychologists and education experts in Kabul warn that excessive PUBG use can harm mental health and school performance, as some teens bypass past blocking orders using VPNs. Maternal Health Crime Case (Afghan-linked): A Kentucky man was charged after investigators said he switched his pregnant girlfriend’s prescription pills, reportedly involving misoprostol.

Menstrual Health & Stigma: Girls in Kabul say menstruation is still treated as a taboo, leaving many fearful and unprepared for their first periods; they call for better awareness in families, schools, and media to protect both physical and mental wellbeing. Women’s Health & Consumer Safety: Kabul residents warn that low-quality and expired sanitary pads are being sold cheaply, often without clear expiration checks, driven by poverty and silence around menstruation—raising risks for women’s health. Public Health & Addiction Risk: Concern is growing in Kabul over the booming sale of intoxicating pills, with residents linking it to poverty and hopelessness and alleging that some Taliban fighters may indirectly enable the trade. Child Marriage & Legal Change: A report highlights how Taliban rules on divorce implicitly allow child marriage, trapping girls in marriages they never chose and increasing risks of abuse. Eid al-Adha Health Access: During Eid al-Adha, hospitals reported births including an Afghan mother delivering a healthy baby boy, underscoring the role of maternity care during major holidays.

Child Marriage & Women’s Health: Reports say Taliban law now implicitly allows child marriage after puberty, trapping girls in marriages they never chose and exposing them to abuse and long court battles. Menstrual Hygiene Crisis: Afghan girls describe taboo and poverty-driven barriers to sanitary pads, pushing many toward unsafe materials and worsening physical and mental health. Eid Health & Safety: WHO’s Afghanistan office urged peace and safe Eid practices, while Interior Ministry warned Kabul residents to avoid firecrackers due to public harm and even hospital cases. Access to Care in Remote Areas: Nimroz residents link poor roads and long distances to deaths during childbirth and delayed treatment for pneumonia. Humanitarian Strain from Displacement: Border clashes with Pakistan have displaced nearly 100,000 people, with families reporting disrupted schooling and inability to reach health services. Infrastructure & Health Link: Nimroz’s Chakhansur road graveling was completed after complaints, improving travel for residents and patients. Health System Support: UNICEF says 2,400 health centers stayed operational across Afghanistan in 2025, highlighting ongoing service continuity amid crisis.

Humanitarian squeeze in Afghanistan: OCHA warns the crisis is worsening as cross-border hostilities with Pakistan, floods, climate shocks, and funding gaps pile up—UNAMA links Jan–Mar 2026 violence to 769 civilian casualties and says at least 19 health facilities were suspended or partially closed, hitting care for about 78,000 people. Eid health and safety: WHO urges safe sacrificial meat distribution, while Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry tells Kabul residents to avoid firecrackers during Eid al-Adha to prevent injuries and public disorder. Women’s health risks: Doctors report more women seeking treatment for infections tied to low-quality or expired sanitary pads, citing poverty and weak market oversight. Aid and access: Uzbekistan delivered 320 tons of food aid to Afghanistan for Eid, and Ireland pledged €3m to the UN humanitarian fund. Ongoing regional pressure: UN also flags rising Congo fever risk ahead of Eid and highlights how disasters hit women and children hardest.

Humanitarian Funding: Ireland added €3 million to the UN Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, as agencies warn poverty, climate shocks, displacement, and shrinking aid are forcing cutbacks and limiting access. Health & Safety for Eid: WHO in Afghanistan urged safer handling and distribution of sacrificial meat to prevent foodborne illness, while UN warnings highlight Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever risks during slaughter. Public Health Risk: Health experts are also calling for Congo fever precautions ahead of Eid sacrifices, as cases and suspected cases remain a concern. Aid Disruption: With the Strait of Hormuz closure choking trade and aid routes, WFP says nutrition supplies have run out and malnourished mothers and children are being turned away from clinics. Sports (Afghanistan): Afghanistan named a 15-man squad for a one-off Test vs India starting June 6-10, with Hashmatullah Shahidi captaining and Rashid Khan rested for workload management.

Memorial Day, but with a health lens: In the U.S., Memorial Day coverage is packed with veterans’ stories—from a Vietnam helicopter crew chief describing hauling the wounded under heavy fire to communities using ceremonies and rucks to fund veteran services and sober living programs. Afghanistan humanitarian strain: In Afghanistan, the latest hard news is about access and care getting worse: UN OCHA says Taliban interference delayed 48 humanitarian operations in April, with restrictions hitting aid programming and female aid workers. Returnees under pressure: UN rights chief Volker Türk condemned forced repatriations of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, warning they face serious harm on return. Maternal health crisis: UNFPA reports Afghanistan ranks among the world’s worst for obstetric fistula, affecting an estimated 15,000 women and girls, tied to lack of safe childbirth care. Floods add to the load: IOM says renewed flash floods have affected over 10,000 families since the start of 2026, especially in Baghlan and Balkh.

Memorial Day & Health Fallout for Veterans: Memorial Day coverage is spotlighting how chronic illness and “invisible wounds” can follow service members home, with renewed attention on cancer risks and mental health burdens like PTSD. Afghanistan Women’s Safety Under Pressure: As Eid al-Adha nears, reporting highlights how Taliban restrictions and economic desperation are fueling forced marriage, trapping women at home, and making violence harder to escape or report. Maternal Health Crisis: The UNFPA says Afghanistan ranks among the world’s worst for obstetric fistula, affecting an estimated 15,000 women and girls, pointing to gaps in maternal care, surgery, and female access to health workers. Aid Access Blocked: OCHA reports Taliban interference delayed 48 humanitarian operations in April, with restrictions on female aid workers and requests for sensitive information. Regional Shockwaves Hitting Health: A major train bombing in Pakistan’s Quetta killed at least 24 and injured 70, underscoring how conflict and insecurity keep disrupting care and supplies across the region.

Health Systems Update: UNICEF says 2,400 health centers stayed operational across Afghanistan in 2025, supported by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, reaching 20+ million people—but the agency warns the gains are under strain as 2 million+ returnees could come back in 2026, piling pressure on already fragile care. Public Health Alert: A separate report flags measles as still a major killer in low-income settings, listing Afghanistan among countries with recurring outbreaks—underscoring why routine immunization and reliable clinic access matter. Security & Access Risk: Meanwhile, regional violence continues to disrupt health and safety—Pakistan’s Quetta train bombing killed dozens and injured many, a reminder of how quickly emergencies can overwhelm medical services. Local Community Care: On the ground, refugee-support groups in the region are pushing health and education alongside language learning, including a Charlottesville program serving Afghan and Syrian families.

UN Health Access: UNICEF’s Afghanistan lead says 2,400 health centers were sustained nationwide in 2025, with World Bank and ADB support reaching 20+ million people. Return-Crisis Pressure: UNICEF also flags one of the world’s biggest return crises, with UN projections of 2 million+ people expected to return to Afghanistan in 2026—raising urgent demand for basic care. Reconstruction on the Ground: UNDP reports a health center in Bamiyan’s Tagab district (Tagab Barg clinic) has been reconstructed and reactivated, aiming to cut travel barriers for children and pregnant women. Health System Safety: Afghanistan’s quality authority says it returned 53 tonnes of substandard construction materials (steel bars) from Farah to protect public health and safety. Disaster Risk: Over the past 48 hours, Taliban-linked disaster updates cite 28 deaths from floods and severe weather, with women and children described as especially vulnerable.

Returnee Health Pressure: UNFPA says 15,000 women and girls in Afghanistan are living with obstetric fistula, calling it a “silent disaster” tied to lack of timely care and access to surgery; UNICEF and UN partners also warn of a major return crisis, with a 2026 Response Plan targeting health, nutrition, water, protection and reintegration for millions of returnees. Local Governance & Accountability: In the UK, Bracknell Forest Council rejected claims that a government Afghan resettlement hotel scheme was housing “over 300 Afghans” since April 2025, saying support is paid by central government and not local taxpayers, as a council misconduct probe continues. Security Spillover: Pakistan’s border violence remains deadly, with multiple operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reporting dozens of militants killed and police injured. Healthcare System Signals: Afghanistan’s domestic pharmaceutical push continues, with Uzbekistan talks on exports and Kabul approving public hospital projects worth billions of AFN.