20-bed infectious diseases hospital opens in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): For the first time in southern Helmand province, a 20-bed hospital for patients suffering from infectious disease has ben opened in Lashkargah, the provincial capital.

The new hospital will be financially supported by the Relief Humanitarian Development Organization (RHDO) non-governmental organization for the next six months, according the Helmand Public Health Department.

Helmand Public Health director Dr. Syed Ahmad Saeed told Pajhwok that infectious diseases would be treated in the hospital.

He added: "Measles and other similar diseases have increased in Helmand and the province needed such a facility.”

He said the number of beds in the hospital would be increased if necessary.

Bost hospital director Dr. Abdul Ahad Zahid also hailed the development, saying the number of patients visiting the Bost hospital had increased and therefore the hospital should be provided with more resources.

Zahid said there had been no special hospital for infectious diseases in Helmand and more beds were added to the new facility and the six-month contract extended, it would help reduce burden on the Bost hospital.

The new hospital’s director, Dr. Qudratullah Sadozai, said the 20-bed hospital had currently 38 personnel and all infectious diseases patients except tuberculosis would be treated there.

Local residents expressed happiness over the establishment of the new hospital and said the existing health facilities in the province were insufficient keeping in view the province’s population.

Qureshi Khoroti, a resident of Lashkargah city, said there were only two hospitals in Lashkargah, which could not cater to the needs of the population.

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