<p>JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The public <a href="/en/health" class="glossify-link">health</a> director on Thursday promised a cancer diagnostic centre would be inaugurated at the Nangarhar Civil Hospital in Jalalabad next week.</p>
<p>While presenting an annual report on the public health situation, Dr. Najibullah Kamawal told a gathering that respiratory diseases had considerably increased in Nangarhar province.</p>
<p>“We are going to create a cancer diagnostic centre at the hospital to provide nationwide services for curing the disease. We have sent some doctors to Turkey for training and 16 machines have been brought to the province,” he said.</p>
<p>Earlier, Afghans would go abroad for the treatment of different forms of cancer, but with the availability of the facility at home, people would avail the services in their own country, he added.</p>
<p>The director said the Public Health Department, having received the facilities, would be able to treat 1.5 million patients a year. At the provincial level, 3.6 million people will receive care.</p>
<p>Of the 120 health facilities across Nangarhar, eight clinics have been closed due to insecurity in Shinwari districts of the province, he said.</p>
<p>Up to 15,000 rickshaws in Nangarhar consumed used auto-mobile oil, which caused respiratory problems, the official explained.</p>
<p>“There are 10 private hospitals in Nangarhar, but we have to invalidate the licences of two due to their low-standard services and may close one of the five institutes in the province,” he concluded.</p>
<p>myn/mud</p>
