Covid-19 cases in Faryab on rise, virus hospital closed

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): The Covid-19 Hospital in northwestern Faryab province has not been functioning since last three months amid recent increase in Covid-19 positive cases.

Meanwhile, personnel of Maimana Hospital say they are feeling Covid-19 symptoms over the past few days and some of their colleagues have tested positive for the respiratory virus but hospital administration is not granting them leave.

Dr. GhulamSakhiHalim, emergency ward in-charge, said he, his wife and daughter are feeling unwell from the past few days and his Covid-19 test was positive  and majority of personnel of emergency ward complained against Covid-19 symptoms but hospital administration did not grant them leave.

He said daily 70 to 100 patients referred to the emergency service and he had no other option but to closely examine these patients.

Maimana Hospital Head Dr. FawziaSaleemi acknowledged some personnel had contracted Covid-19 but they had not received any instructions from the ministry regarding personnel suffering from Covid-19 so that they could act accordingly.

Dr. Saleemi said naturally during winter respiratory disease increases, some of their personnel are also feeling unwell and they have recovered the result of few individuals were positive and they were asked to ensure Covi-19 precautions.

She said so far Omicron type of Covid-19 has not surfaced in Faryab.

Referring to the fact that some staff members tested positive for Covid-19 but they are not allowed to get leave, Dr. Saleemi said there was no instructions to them from the Public Health Ministry in this regard so they could act accordingly.

She, however, said; “Past experiences show doctors after taking leave for Covid-19, they work in private clinics and spread the virus among people more effectively.”

Bashir Ahmad, head of Covid-19 diagnose centre in Maimana, said daily 50 to 60 samples from the surveillance section were provided to them for testing in which 50 percent are positive.

Dr. HumayonAhi, the surveillance section head of Maimana Hospital, said they collected 60 samples from Maiman City in which 40 percent are positive cases.

Ahi said currently the 50-bed Covid-19 Hospital in Maimana City was not functioning, adding that they had instructed individuals with positive cases to stay away from social gathering, go in isolation and wear mask for at least two weeks.

He added: “Three Maimana Hospital doctors also tested positive for Covid-19 but  told the hospital administration not to grant them leave because when they go on leave they work in private clinics and spread the virus more effectively. In the hospital they at least implement some Covid-19 measures such as wearing masks and gloves.”

Dr. Mohammad ZamanAzeemi, head of the 50-bed Covid-19 Hospital in Maimana, said nurses and vaccination staff of the hospital did not receive salaries from the past 10 months and the hospital has no facility for Covid-19 patients.

He said total 200 personnel of the Covid-19 Hospital did not get their salaries from the past 10 months and they were going through difficult financial condition.

He asked the government and international health institutions to help their staff members receive their salaries.

Faryab Public Health Director Mawlavi Khan Mohammad Himmat said government policy regarding medical personnel with positive Covid-19 was clear which was sending these personnel on leave.

He said health ministry was striving to ensure fund for the Covid-19 hospital through donors or from government budget.

Nh/ma

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