RASC News Agency: On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that it has provided rehabilitation services to more than 11,000 children with cerebral palsy in Afghanistan this year. In a statement issued on December 2, the ICRC emphasized that due to the severe shortage of resources and medical specialists across the country, cerebral palsy often goes undiagnosed. The ICRC reiterated its unwavering commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities, especially children suffering from cerebral palsy.
A supervisor at the Cerebral Palsy Unit of Kabul’s Physical Rehabilitation Center stated that the facility serves over 794 cerebral palsy patients every month, with more than 130 new cases recently registered. The statement underscored the alarming prevalence of cerebral palsy in Afghanistan’s rural areas, where access to specialized medical care remains an enormous challenge. According to the ICRC, over 64,000 patients with cerebral palsy are currently receiving treatment at rehabilitation centers supported by the organization nationwide.
The suspension of operations by numerous international aid organizations, prompted by Taliban-imposed restrictions on women and interference in humanitarian activities, has further exacerbated the plight of vulnerable populations in Afghanistan. These interruptions have disproportionately impacted impoverished families and rural communities, intensifying their struggle to access essential services.
