LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): The Doctors Without Borders organization says it plans to open a maternity clinic in the Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province in near future.
Winston Mulanda K, the organization’s medical affairs in-charge in Afghanistan, told Pajhwok Afghan News during a visit to Helmand that they would gradually expend their services after looking into the outcome of their initial work in Musa Qala.
He said their organization also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) would establish a well-equipped maternity hospital in Musa Qala. He said the facility would have a professional lady doctor and five midwives.
He said the clinic staff would be increased if needed. He said they chose Musa Qala because it was located away from the provincial capital, Lashkargah, a reason behind child-mother mortality incidents.
Dr. Winston said midwives, who would be appointed at the MSF clinic in Musa Qala, would be first practically trained in the Bost hospital in Lashkargah.
He said Musa Qala was located in the centre of Helmand’s north near Kajaki, Baghran and Nawzad districts. He said their organization had been offering services only at day time in the past, but now they had decided to offer round-the-clock services.
“We’re apolitical, wherever our services are needed, we extend our services there and go by our principles. No armed person can enter with arms to our facility or can exert pressure on us.”
The Musa Qala district has been under Taliban’s control.
Dr. Winston said the 350-bed Bost hospital in Lashkargah offered standard services and treated 900 and 1100 childbirth cases per month, with the figures reaching 14000 a year.
He said there were 13 child and mother death incidents this year mainly due to late arrival at hospital.
Helmand provincial public health director Dr. Aminullh Abid assured their full cooperation with the Doctors without Borders organization. He said the people of Musa Qala were in dire need of such health services.
A tribal elder in Musa Qala, Haji Mohammad Naeem Khan, told Pajhwok they had thrice met MSF officials and had requested them to open a clinic in the town.
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