The United Nations has established several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promote global development and enhance people’s lives worldwide. One of these aims is to minimize premature mortality from noncommunicable illnesses such as chronic lung disease by one-third by 2030. This aim is especially important in Afghanistan, where the country has a high lung illness burden for a combination of reasons.The frequency of smoking is a key contributor to Afghanistan’s high rates of chronic lung disease. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) assessment, the general smoking prevalence in Afghanistan is high, with 35% of males and 1% of women presently smoking (Waseq, 2020).
This is well above the worldwide average, which is roughly 20% for males and 5% for women. A variety of reasons contribute to Afghanistan’s high smoking rates, including cultural attitudes that consider smoking as socially acceptable and the availability of inexpensive, easily available tobacco products.Exposure to indoor air pollution is another key cause of chronic lung disease in Afghanistan. Many Afghan homes depend on solid fuels such as wood, charcoal, and dung for cooking and heating. Because these fuels are used in poorly ventilated areas, large levels of indoor air pollution result.
According to a WHO research, Afghanistan’s average exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) is among the highest in the world, with a mean of 114.7 g/m3. This is more than twice the WHO’s suggested guideline threshold of 40 g/m3 (Martinez et al., 2020).
Outdoor air pollution is also a serious issue in Afghanistan. The country’s population and economy are quickly expanding, which has resulted in a rise in industrial and traffic emissions. As a result, large metropolitan centres like as Kabul and Herat have significant levels of outdoor air pollution. Particulate matter levels in the air, particularly PM10 and PM2.5, may cause respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, lung cancer, stroke, and other ailments (Baptista et al., 2021, p. 201)
Afghanistan’s protracted conflicts and war have also resulted in a rise in incidences of respiratory sickness. IEDs have caused severe damage to buildings and infrastructure, resulting in the collapse of houses and other structures. As a result, many individuals have been left without proper shelter, causing them to live in overcrowded and poorly ventilated circumstances that promote the development of respiratory illnesses. Overall, chronic lung disease is a serious public health issue in Afghanistan, with many individuals suffering from ailments induced by tobacco smoke exposure, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and the consequences of conflict. To solve this issue, the government must work with international organizations to decrease smoking prevalence, enhance access to clean energy, and address the effects of war on public health. To be successful, it will be necessary to involve communities and collaborate with them in developing and implementing effective measures to minimize the burden of chronic lung disease in Afghanistan.
Thesis Statement
In spite of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and access to treatment, it is unlikely that Afghanistan will achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing premature mortality from chronic lung disease by one third. This is because there is still conflict in the country, funding is limited, and there is a shortage of trained personnel in Afghanistan.
Justification : For decades, Afghanistan has been mired in a state of perpetual war, which has caused substantial damage to the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and made it impossible for a great number of people in the country to get medical treatment. Due to the fact that this nation is one of the poorest in the world, with a GDP per capita of around $1,000, it is challenging to allocate appropriate resources to healthcare and mental health services. Because there is a lack of educated medical workers in Afghanistan, access to care is further restricted, and it is difficult to give adequate treatment for chronic lung disease and other illnesses. Because of all of these variables working together, it will be difficult for Afghanistan to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing early death from chronic lung disease and promoting mental health and well-being.
Definition of Terms Associated with Chronic Lung Disease
Chronic Lung Disease: This term refers to a collection of lung disorders that cause difficulty breathing and a chronic cough. Chronic lung illnesses include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and lung fibrosis, to name a few. Premature Mortality: Death that happens before the projected age of death based on a population’s average life expectancy. Prevention refers to the steps done to avoid the beginning of a certain ailment or disease. Educating the public about risk factors, supporting healthy practices, and giving screenings are some examples. Treatment is the care and treatment of a specific illness or disease. Medication administration, surgery, and physical therapy are just a few examples (Bennett et al., 2020).
Impact on the Health of the Population as a whole
The health of the Afghan people as a whole would greatly improve if the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to reduce premature death from chronic lung disease by one third were to be achieved. This would result in fewer individuals being affected by the debilitating consequences of chronic lung disease as well as a reduction in the number of fatalities that may have been avoided due to the condition (Kazemi et al., 2021). The number of individuals in this country who suffer from chronic lung disease and are dependent on long-term care would go down, which would have a huge positive effect on the nation’s public health. In general, it is obvious that reaching this Sustainable Development Goal will have a significant positive effect on the health of the people who live in Afghanistan.
Factors that Influence the Likelihood of Achieving the Target
Historical factors
In Afghanistan, the present scenario with respect to chronic lung disease and early mortality is likely the result of various historical causes having contributed to the condition in the past. Climate events such as droughts are likely to have had a severe influence on the general health of the population. This is because droughts may result in a lack of food security and hunger, both of which can worsen lung disease. In addition, it is quite probable that the protracted violent battles that have taken place in the nation have also contributed to the poor air quality, which might negatively impact one’s lung health. For the purpose of heating their homes, for instance, individuals often resort to burning biomass and coal as a result of the conflict and the widespread poverty. This results in the contamination of the air (Wang et al., 2019 , p. 1067).
In addition, it is quite possible that political shifts and instability have also had a part in the present scenario of chronic lung illness as it pertains to the world. It is possible that attempts to treat chronic lung disease and premature mortality have been hampered as a result of the absence of stable and competent government, which has meant that the healthcare infrastructure and access to healthcare have been constrained (Olsen et al., 2022, p. 201) . Afghanistan has been dealing with this problem for a considerable amount of time. Nevertheless, the nation has not been in possession of the resources and capabilities needed to adequately address this issue.
Afghanistan is a country with a lower-middle income, with a large population of people living in rural and displaced areas who lack access to basic health care services. Additionally, the country’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which makes the population particularly vulnerable to climate events. When seen as a whole, historical events such as climate, natural catastrophes, political upheaval, and war are likely to have had a considerable influence on the present situation in Afghanistan regarding chronic lung disease and premature death. Due to insufficient resources and outdated infrastructure, the nation has had a difficult time properly addressing this problem.
Cultural Factors
Culture has the potential to influence the occurrence and treatment of chronic pulmonary disease in Afghanistan. Local attitudes and habits, such as the use of traditional medicine and a reluctance to seek contemporary medical care, may contribute to the country’s high prevalence of early death from chronic lung disease. Traditional forms of medicine, such as herbal treatments, are widely utilized in Afghanistan to treat ailments, especially respiratory difficulties. This might result in delayed detection and treatment of chronic lung disease, worsening the illness and leading to mortality (Masood et al., 2022, p. 39)
Religion may also have an impact on the issue, with some people preferring to depend on prayer and other spiritual activities over obtaining medical therapy. Traditional patriarchal gender norms in Afghan culture may also play a role, with males more likely than women to seek treatment for chronic lung illness( Krefft, 2022, p. 2984). Limited access to healthcare and cultural obstacles may also discourage ethnic minorities from getting treatment for chronic lung illness. All of these cultural influences may stymie efforts to reduce premature death from chronic lung disease by one-third by 2030. These challenges may be addressed by educating the public about the significance of obtaining contemporary medical treatment and striving to increase access to healthcare in neglected groups.
Structural Factors
The following structural factors are most likely to have an impact on the issue of reducing premature mortality from chronic lung disease in Afghanistan: Access to health care: Access to high-quality health-care services, such as preventive care and treatment for chronic lung diseases, is critical for reducing premature mortality. Many Afghans living in rural areas or conflict zones may have limited access to health care services. Education: Educating people about the risk factors for chronic lung disease and how to prevent it can help to reduce premature mortality. In Afghanistan, a lack of education on this topic may contribute to the high rates of premature mortality from chronic lung disease.
Access to transportation can also be a structural factor influencing the issue because it affects access to health care and education. If people in Afghanistan have difficulty getting around, it may be more difficult for them to get health care and information about chronic lung disease. Housing and sanitation: The state of housing and sanitation in Afghanistan may have an impact on the premature mortality rate from chronic lung disease. Poor living conditions, as well as a lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, can increase the risk of respiratory infections, which can lead to chronic lung disease( Mishra, 202, p. 667)
Critical Analysis
The SDG target of reducing premature mortality from chronic lung disease by one-third is a significant challenge in Afghanistan, as the country faces a number of historical, cultural, and structural factors that can impede progress toward this goal. Among the obstacles to meeting the goal are: Access to health care: Many people in Afghanistan who live in rural areas or in conflict zones may have limited access to health care, making it difficult for them to receive preventative care and treatment for chronic lung diseases. This can make reducing premature mortality from these diseases difficult.Education: In Afghanistan, a lack of education about chronic lung disease risk factors and ways to prevent it may contribute to the high rates of premature mortality from chronic lung disease.
Access to transportation can also be a barrier, as it affects access to health care and education. If people in Afghanistan have difficulty getting around, it may be more difficult for them to get health care and information about chronic lung disease. Housing and sanitation: Lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as poor housing conditions, can increase the risk of respiratory infections, which can lead to chronic lung disease. This is also a hindrance (Baptista et al., 2021, p. 565). Social and cultural beliefs and practices: Afghanistan has a traditional culture, and changes in health care practices, such as vaccination or the adoption of new technology, may be met with resistance.
Lack of policy or proper allocation of funds and resources: Afghanistan is a low- to lower-middle-income country with limited resources to provide the necessary services to reduce premature mortality from chronic lung disease. Furthermore, policies and funding may be ineffective in addressing this issue. However, there are some potential enablers for meeting the goal: Success Story: The World Health Organization’s “Healthy Lungs for Life” campaign, which focuses on reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, promoting physical activity and healthy diets, and providing information on lung health and disease, is one example of a relevant program that has resulted in improved outcomes for reducing premature mortality from chronic lung disease(Mammarappallil et al., 2020 , p. 55).
This approach, or similar treatments, might be adopted in Afghanistan to address the problem of early death from chronic lung disease. Among the suggestions are: Increasing access to health services in rural and war zones, particularly preventive care and treatment for chronic lung illnesses, via the use of mobile health clinics or telemedicine. Through schools and community-based groups, knowledge regarding risk factors for chronic lung disease and measures to avoid it is being provided. Improving transportation access to make it simpler for individuals to receive health care and education.
Improving housing and sanitary conditions, particularly in rural and conflict regions, to lower the incidence of respiratory illnesses. Engaging community leaders, traditional healers, and other stakeholders to overcome any cultural hurdles to changing health care practices, such as immunization or the use of new technologies.
Investing in policies and funds to reduce the premature death rate from chronic lung disease. Developing strong monitoring and evaluation procedures to track the efficacy of initiatives. It is worth highlighting that any practical interventions would need a multifaceted and multisectoral strategy, as well as coordination among various players such as the government, NGOs, and international organizations. Furthermore, it will be critical to examine Afghanistan’s specific context and problems, and to tailor solutions appropriately.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Sustainable Development Goals strive to reduce by one third premature mortality from chronic lung disease, and the situation in Afghanistan is an important indicator of the progress being made in this area. Despite some improvement in recent years, Afghanistan is still facing a number of challenges in achieving the target, including limited access to healthcare, sanitation, and clean air, as well as a lack of public awareness about the dangers of chronic lung disease. However, with continued government commitment and investment in health services, the country can make great strides towards achieving this SDG.
Overall, if Afghanistan is to achieve its goal to reduce by one third premature mortality from chronic lung disease, it must prioritize healthcare, sanitation and clean air as well as public awareness campaigns about the dangers of chronic lung disease. Additionally, the country must continue to invest in health services and develop new ways to reach remote areas. If these measures are taken, then Afghanistan has a good chance of making significant progress towards reducing premature mortality from chronic lung disease.
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