GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Public health officials in southeastern Paktia province on Sunday said they lacked oxygen, medicines and hospital beds amid rapidly spreading coronavirus cases across the province.
Public health director Dr. Walayat Khan Ahmadzai said he was concerned about the ongoing situation and asked people to avoid crowds in order to contain the virus spread.
“Nearly 80 to 90 percent of Paktia people are infected with coronavirus, all people are complaining about fever and pains,” he said.
He confirmed they lacked enough testing kits to test the increasing number of patients. However, he said patients could to visit private clinics for treatment as well.
Ahmadzai said he had shared the problem several times with the Ministry of Public Health but they did not receive any help despite promises.
Five people infected with coronavirus in Paktia province died today (Sunday).
Dr. Mohammad Asif Ahmadzai, who runs a private healthcare center in Gardez, the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he examined dozens of patients mostly infected with coronavirus on a daily basis.
He expressed concern over shortage of medicines in the market and asked the government to take serious action for supply of medicines and oxygen in coordination with the private sector.
“Our zonal hospital does not accept coronavirus patients. I refer four to five patients struggling with shortness of breath to the zonal hospital but they refuse to admit them and told them to visit coronavirus treatment center which is also jam-packed,” he said.
Zaheer Khan Angar, a civil society activist in Gardez, criticized the public health ministry for failing to control the situation despite having resources and receiving a high amount of foreign aid.
“People are also responsible for creating this critical situation, they do not observe quarantine, social distance and preventive measures, this situation should be controlled as the virus kills from 15 to 20 people on a daily basis,” he said.
Arif Afghan, a resident of Gardez city, also said that some patients in the province died due to shortage of oxygen, a problem he added still persists.
On the other hand, Paktia public health director Dr. Walayat Khan Ahmadzai was also concerned about the ongoing situation and asked people to avoid crowds.
“Nearly 80 to 90 percent of Paktia people are infected with coronavirus, all people are complaining about fever and pains, testing kits are not enough to test them all, but they can be treated based on their clinical signs by private clinics as well,” he said.
Ahmadzai said he has shared the problem several times with the Ministry of Public Health but they did not receive any help despite promises.
Five people infected with coronavirus in Paktia province died today (Sunday).
Mds/ma
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