Residents want district clinic moved out of military base

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of Ismailkhel and Mandozai district of southeastern Khost province have urged the government to move the district health clinic out of a military base to an appropriate location.

Zurmat Khan, a resident of the district who had brought a patient to the clinic, said he was thoroughly searched by the security forces on his way to the clinic at the military base.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Khan called on the government to move the only health clinic in the district from the base to a more convenient place where people could go freely.

He added: “We want exemption from security searches; there should be no hassle. We demand an easy-to-access place…”

Samina, a female employee of the clinic, told Pajhwok that women patients visiting the facility faced serious problems.

She said: “The clinic is a military one… we do have a night shift but expecting mothers cannot come here; they are searched before being allowed to reach here.”

Syed Badshah, director of the clinic, said the health centre also provided services for female patients, especially the maternity ward, and dozens of women visit the clinic.

He said he had been trying to relocate the clinic over the past few years, but had not been able to find a suitable place.

“We are striving to find an appropriate place for it, which is acceptable to both tribes (Ismailkhel and Mandozai). The current district administrative chief has come twice, promising to find a place for it,” he explained.

Public Health Director Dr Habib Shah Ansari told Pajhwok he had repeatedly shared the issue with the governor’s house and tribal elders.

He added the department had enough budget, but could not afford to relocate the clinic due to lack of a proper place.

A number of other area people and members of the district council said they had approached the government several times to resolve the issue, but no positive outcome had been achieved yet.

sa/mud

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