MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): A 50-bed hospital and a health centre in northern Balkh province have been closed, depriving thousands of people of healthcare.
The 50-bed hospital has been closed in Dawlatabad district and the health center in Chahar Bolak district.
The governor’s house and the public health department acknowledge the issue and promise to resolve the problem soon.
A doctor in the 50-bed hospital, who wished to go unnamed, said the escalation of fighting in the district and increasing Taliban’s influence forced the government to deploy security forces in the hospital to protect the district and police headquarters.
“The 50-bed hospital is converted into a military base, all the health staff has been dismissed and healthcare services banned,” he added.
“Our district is very far from Mazar-i-Sharif, our people who would previously take all their patients to this 50-bed hospital now to take their patients to Mazar-i-Sharif,” he added.
Tribal elders asked security forces to address the issue at the earliest possible.
HamidullahZafarzai, head of the Chahar Bolak youth council, told Pajhwok the health center in Aqtapa area had been destroyed in a clash between the Taliban and security forces.
Zafarzai added the warring parties should pay close attention to the security of schools and hospitals during their operations.
NajmaShafajo, head of the Afghan gynecology association, also said insecurity in some parts of the country had hampered health services.
Responding to a question, he said: “Our health services in districts and remote areas are facing many problems due to the conflict; insecurity is one of the major causes of mortality.”
KhalilullahHekmati, director of public health in Balkh, also acknowledged the problems with health services in Chahar Bolak and Dawlatabad districts.
He claimed to have sent letters to the authorities regarding the reactivation of the 50-bed hospital in Dawlatabad and asked for their cooperation.
Governor Mohammad FarhadAzimi said security forces had sent up a base at the hospital to ensure security for Dawlatabad district and police headquarters.
He said efforts were being made to reduce security challenges and reopen the hospital.
The governor said: “Due to increasing threats, security forces have been stationed in the hospital because we have to save the district centre from the threat of collapse.”
Sa/ma
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