Paktia protestors shut health contractor’s office

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents of southeastern Paktia province on Saturday closed a contractor’s office that provides logistic supplies and personnel to healthcare centers in the province.

The protestors say health problems have increased in healthcare centers since the contract of these centers was signed with Hewad Organization.

They erected a protest tent in front of the organization’s building and said they would not disperse until their problems were solved and the deadline for the organization’s contract term was clarified.

Hafizullah Mubariz, head of Paktia Mutahid Council, said that Hewad Organization held the contract in Paktia province since last two and a half years, during which he added complaints about health issues have risen.

“Former governor, the provincial council and all others had opposed the contract with this organization at that time, because it was accepted against a very low price, unfortunately, due to corruption,” he said.

A civil society activist, Jumma Gul Afghan, said that health services in districts were poor and the organization had failed to provide personnel to some clinics and provincial zonal hospital.

“If you see the situation of the zonal hospital, you would not believe it. There are no facilities for patients and you cannot find a syringe. A patient should wait for hours for a doctor. We can no longer accept this contract,” he said.

A tribal elder, Dagarwal Zafar, said that most of patients purchased medicines from outside the hospital and some machines in the zonal hospital were inactive.

“It is business, I did not receive even a single pill in the hospital when I was hospitalized there. All doctors refer patients to their private medical stores. This organization did nothing for people,” he added.

Paktia governor, Halim Fidai who visited the protest, said that negligence in the health sector was not acceptable and he would closely follow the issue.

“Health and education are my red lines; we do not accept corruption and negligence in these two areas. We are committed to reforming these areas and will work to resolve their problems,” he said.

However, Dr. Fazl Mohammad Mangal, head of Hewad Organization, said that they had provided all services based on the contract.

“Services may not be on the level as should be or the people want it, it may be not anywhere, but we try. If there are any documents of violations or corruption they can present. Medicine prices increased during Covid-19 but still we solved most of problems,” he said.

Yarbaz Hamidi, a lawmaker from Paktia, said he had created a committee of five individuals to share the matter with the Ministry of Public Health.

Former Paktia governor, Shamim Khan Katawazi, had referred Hewad Organization to the Attorney Office over corruption, violations and negligence last year.

Mds/ma