Badghis Covid-19 Hospital stays closed as cases surge

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Health officials and residents of northwestern Badghis province have demanded the government should reactivate the Covid-19 Hospital in the province as most people have developed symptoms of the respiratory virus.

They said Covid-19 Hospital in the province was closed five months ago due to the lack of funds.

Abdul Ghafar, a resident of Qala-i-Naw, the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News the number of Covid-19 patients had surged in cold weather.

“These days most people have Covid-19 symptoms and a hospital treating Covid-19 patients is not functioning in Badghis. People don’t know what to do and where to go, in the past the hospital was active and people with Covid-19 symptoms visit it for tests and treatment.”

Mohammad Ibrahim, another resident of Qala-i-Naw, said: “Currently most people are suffering from Covid-19 but no facility exists for their treatment, the hospital is closed, people have to refer to Provincial Hospital but there is no Covid-19 facility there, people are in deep trouble.”

People feared a catastrophic situation if Badghis Covid-19 Hospital was not made functional, adding that most people suffering from Covid-19 related symptoms.

Badghis Health Department Director Mohammad AsifQanit said three doctors had been tasked to discharge mobile duty and take samples from suspected patients and separate them from others.

He said Covid-19 Hospital is currently not functioning, there is no donor who could offer funds and make the hospital functional.

Three doctors were tasked last week who collected 100 samples from suspected patients but still it is not clear how many were positive.

He asked the ministry and aid providing agencies to provide funds for the activation of Covid-19 Hospital in the province.

Public Health Ministry on Sunday announced 479 persons tested positive for Covid-19 in 24 hours out of which seven died.

Nh/ma