The World Health Organization, with financial support of the European Union, transformed a 100-bed drug addiction treatment center in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Centre’s upgraded facilities are now better equipped to support Afghans in need on their path to recovery. The newly renovated Centre seeks to provide quality drug treatment programs that help restore and maintain the physical, mental, social, psychological and economic well-being of vulnerable people from Kandahar and neighboring provinces. The holistic approach of the program is essential in addressing drug abuses and its related mental and physical disorders and deaths. It also pays attention to reduce negative social and economic consequences such as unemployment, discrimination and stigmatization, crime and violence.

 “The opening of the DATC in Kandahar brings drug treatment closer to vulnerable populations and highlights our continued commitment to address overall health of Afghans”, says Dr Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Afghanistan. “The WHO acknowledges the strategic support of the EU and other partners in providing integrated, qualitative, and comprehensive drug use disorder and mental health and psychosocial support services that address immediate needs of people towards achieving universal health coverage. Drug use disorders need to be considered primarily as a health problem rather than criminal behavior.”

Raffaella Iodice, EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i., emphasized during the project launch in December 2022 the importance of health and well-being of the people of Afghanistan. “Our European Union support will ensure the transformation of the treatment centers in several provinces, one of those in Kandahar. It stands as a beacon of hope offering support to Afghans on their journey to recovery. Improving health and well-being of the people of Afghanistan – in joint effort with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – is one of our priorities for the country.”

In 2022, the EU allocated €16 million to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to ensure that vulnerable populations in Afghanistan, including women, girls, minorities, internally displaced individuals, and refugees, can access integrated and comprehensive mental health and drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation services. The renovated Centre is among several ones supported by the EU-funded project on Increasing access of vulnerable populations in Afghanistan to qualitative and comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and drug use disorder services.