KABUL: The Taliban has launched an awareness campaign on COVID-19 in Logar province in the east of Afghanistan, 76 kilometers to the east of Kabul.

Media reports said in Baraki Barak district clashes were occurring in one part of the district and a health awareness campaign was underway in another.

“We do ablution five times a day. In this practice, we wash our hands many times. We can use detergent at the time (when we wash our hands),” said Wazir Gul Ranzormal, a member of the Taliban’s health commission in the southeast.Taliban members said the coronavirus awareness campaign is underway in many areas under their influence. “The spread of the virus, which has suppressed many countries, should be prevented in our country,” said Khalid, a Taliban commander in Logar. Some residents of Baraki Barak district welcomed the move by the Taliban and said that recently they have more access to health care services.

“Health centers and other facilities have been provided to us. We do not have any certain problems in health care,” said Rahmatullah Qaderi, a resident of Baraki Barak district. Despite the Taliban’s recent commitment to support health services, an official in Helmand said the group occasionally poses obstacles to health care services.

“House-to-house vaccination was banned in areas under Taliban influence, and it is the same right now—but we call on everyone not to impede efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus,” said Zakir Yaqeen, acting head of Helmand’s public health directorate. The Public Health Ministry welcomed the Taliban’s campaign on coronavirus.

“We welcome that the Taliban has initiated a committee for fighting the coronavirus,” said Wahidullah Mayar, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health. So far, 120 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Afghanistan, according to the Public Health Ministry.