EU grants WHO, UNODC €10m to advance mental health in Afghanistan

The EU provides an additional €10 million in funding to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to advance mental health and drug use disorder services in Afghanistan

The European Union has allocated an additional €10 million to enhance mental health support and tackle drug use disorders in Afghanistan.

The European Union has released an additional €10 million (an equivalent of 800 million Afghani) to improve mental health and addressing drug use disorders in Afghanistan.

This additional EU funding will ensure that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will provide wider access to mental health and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation services for vulnerable populations in Afghanistan, including to women and girls.

“The EU feels very strongly about improving the health and well-being of the people in Afghanistan”, affirmed Raffaella Iodice, EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan. “It is important that those persons who struggle with mental health and drug use disorder have access to comprehensive health services and that they are helped to re-integrate into society. That is why the EU has decided to increase our funding to our partners WHO and UNODC. With this additional funding more people in need will be reached.”

“The EU’s support is essential in facilitating access to mental health and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation services for vulnerable populations in Afghanistan,” emphasized Dr Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Afghanistan. “This additional €10 million funding will significantly enhance our endeavors to tackle the existing mental health and drug use disorder challenges among these populations, thereby enabling us to deliver the requisite care and support they rightfully deserve.”

Afghanistan sees nearly 4 million drug user which equals close to 10 per cent of the population. The worsening crisis has left most of the country’s drug treatment and rehabilitation centers struggling to cope and drug users without access to treatment. “The additional funding is crucial in addressing drug use and its related disorders in Afghanistan by increasing access to integrated, evidence-based and human rights-oriented drug treatment and rehabilitation services”, said Anubha Sood, UNODC Representative in Afghanistan.

The EU’s ongoing commitment reflects its dedication to promoting health and well-being in Afghanistan. By working together with WHO and UNODC, the EU aims to create sustainable solutions that address complex issues surrounding mental health and drug use disorders in the country.

The initial funding provided by the EU in 2022 played a pivotal role in strengthening mental health and drug use disorder services in Afghanistan. Through the co-operation with the WHO and UNODC, initiatives helped to enhance the quality and availability of these crucial services. For example, the EU-funded project has been instrumental in supporting the renovation and establishment of several drug addiction centers across the country. Additionally, healthcare workers throughout Afghanistan underwent comprehensive trainings in mental health and drug disorders management, equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills to provide effective care and support to individuals in need.