Ghor Covid-19 Hospital again runs into financial woes

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): The Covid-19 Hospital in western Ghor province is once again faced with a financial crisis, officials said on Wednesday.

After the regime change in Afghanistan last year, the Covid-19 Hospital stopped operation. However, it restarted working two months ago.

The 20-bed Covid-19 Hospital in Ferozkoh, the provincial capital, offered 24/7 services and treated hundreds of Covid-19 patients. Hospital Director Mohammad Sharif Qazizada said they were supported by CHA for one month. But he is concerned the hospital won’t be able to continue functioning.

Covid-19 is spreading again and more people are infected by respiratory disease.

He asked health officials to pay due attention to the Covid-19 Hospital in Ghor and stop the facility from looming closure yet again.

Qazizada said: “More and more people are being infected by Covid-19 and there is an urgent need for keeping this hospital functional.”

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Abdul Ghani, a Covid-19 patient, said: “Last week, I was suffering from body aches including a headache.  I visited to this hospital, where I tested positive for Covid. I was hospitalised

“All facilities are available here and doctors properly examined me. As a result, I have recovered now,” he added.

Shumail, an elderly woman, was also admitted to the hospital three days back for medical treatment and doctors told her that she had Covid.

Shumail said: “I don’t know, doctors told me that I have Covid-19,. They hospitalised me and provided me the necessary treatment.

“The doctors here are doing a wonderful job. If this hospital is closed, where would people go for treatment?” she asked.

Ezzatullah, another resident of Ferozkoh, said in case of the hospital’s closure, people would have to go to Kabul or Herat provinces for treatment.

Jamal, another inhabitant of Ghor, warned: “If the hospital is closed, more people would be infected by Covid-19 and this would cause fatalities as well. The government should ensure the hospital remains functional.”

According to the administration, since the reopening of the hospital, around 6,000 patients have received treatment.

nh/mud

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