KABUL, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Sitting by his 11-year-old daughter's bed at Kabul's only public cancer treatment hospital, Mohammad Zahir prayed for her recovery from uterine cancer and dreamed of the day she could return home smiling.

While the global community observes World Cancer Day, Afghanistan continues to endure heartbreaking losses from cancer, with thousands of people affected by the dual challenges of poverty and a lack of accessible healthcare.

Zahir, who traveled over 130 km from Bamiyan province to Kabul for his daughter's treatment, explained, "We brought her to this hospital because she had a tumor (uterine cancer)."

As the sole breadwinner of a 10-member family and unemployed, Zahir expressed that he cannot afford to pay for his daughter's treatment in private hospitals.

"The cost of cancer treatment in private hospitals is extremely high, typically ranging from 300,000 to 400,000 afghani (around 4,000 to 5,300 U.S. dollars)," Zahir noted.

Medical professionals argued that prolonged conflict, the use of hazardous materials, and the widespread distribution of pollutants have significantly contributed to the rising incidence of cancer in Afghanistan.

"Forty years of war, the use of various explosives, and exposure to different radiation levels are key risk factors for cancer in Afghanistan," said Dr. Ahmad Jawed Zarang, an internal medicine and oncology specialist at the National Cancer Diagnostic Therapeutic Hospital in Kabul.

"We can diagnose any type of cancer at this hospital and also offer psychological counseling services to individuals diagnosed with cancer," Zarang added.

The 70-bed state-owned hospital provides free cancer diagnosis and treatment services to residents of Kabul and surrounding provinces.

"We registered 39,889 cancer patients last year. We have four active cancer centers in four regions of the country," said Dr. Ahmad Khaled, a technical assistant at the National Cancer Diagnostic Therapeutic Hospital in Kabul.

According to Khaled, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women, while esophageal cancer is the leading type in men in Afghanistan.

"We receive 500 to 800 cancer patients daily across Afghanistan, and in Kabul alone, we see 300 to 400 patients each day," Khaled told Xinhua.

Despite the large influx of patients seeking cancer treatment, hospital officials have expressed dissatisfaction with the current facilities.

"We lack vital medical resources, including CT scans, MRI, DSA, and radiotherapy equipment. We don't even have fully equipped operating rooms in this hospital," said Khaled.

According to official statistics of the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, 23,000 Afghans contracted cancer and 16,000 of them died from it in 2023.

The healthcare sector in Afghanistan, like other national infrastructure, has suffered significant damage due to decades of devastating conflicts, particularly during the presence of U.S. troops over the past two decades in the war-torn country.

The progress of cancer care facilities relies heavily on the backing of international donors. With the reduction in international funding and limited domestic resources, the Afghan healthcare system is facing significant challenges.

Currently, thousands of Afghans suffering from various types of cancer across the country are unable to access treatment due to economic hardship and insufficient healthcare facilities, leaving them in a state of waiting for a solution. Enditem

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