Qadis residents lament lack of health services

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Residents of the Qadis district western Badghis province complain about what they call the lack of hospitals and substandard health services.

Resident Habibullah Qadisi told Pajhwok Afghan News Qadis had a large population, but there was no standard health facility in the district.

According to him, the absence of a hospital in the district had created difficulties for the people who had to go to the provincial hospital for the treatment of even a minor illness.

Mohammad Yousaf, another inhabitant, said only a single clinic existed in the district with only one doctor. The clinic cannot serve all residents of the district.

He added: “Unfortunately, we have a single clinic in this district with inadequate facilities. We have to take our patients to Qala-i-Naw for treatment.”

But Dr. Zamanuddin Hazeq, manager of the CFC clinic in the district, said about three hundred people visited the facility daily for medical treatment.

Hazeq confirmed he was the only doctor working at the health center and examining and treating patients. “We receive 250 to 300 patients daily and strive to treat as many of them as possible. A female doctor is also needed.”

With limited facilities and insufficient staff, they were trying to treat visitors and obviate the need for them going to the main provincial hospital, he continued.

Khan Mohammad Himmat, acting director of public health, called the issue a common one. All districts, except Bala Murghab did not have hospitals, he explained.

Himmat blamed the previous government for paying no attention to the health sector. As a result, he argued, people’s health problems still persisted.

sa/mud

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