First-ever infectious diseases hospital opens in Badghis

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): For the first time in western Badghis province, a 20-bed hospital for patients suffering from infectious disease has been opened in Qala-i-Naw, the provincial capital.

The new hospital was established with financial support of the World Health Organization (WHO), said Dr Ajab Khan Hamidi, acting director of public health.

According to him, the hospital has 48 health personnel, including two specialist doctors. He said patients suffering tuberculosis, cholera, malaria, etc. will be treated in the facility.

Meanwhile, Naqibullah Sharifi, Afghanistan's public health management and research courses head in Badghis province, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the hospital started operating and would continue for five months with the possibility to extend its services.

According to him, the new hospital was established at a cost of $178,000 provided by WHO.

He added: "This hospital is equipped with personnel to serve infectious diseases patients 24 hours a day and for the time being, the cost of this hospital will be paid for five months by the donor and it is likely to be extended.”

Residents of Badghis province expressed happiness over the opening of the hospital and demanded more such efforts in the field of health.

Abdul Ghafar, a resident of Badghis, said the opening of the hospital was a good step and the Islamic Emirate was expected to build and open more hospitals for the people.

According to him, residents of Badghis travel to other provinces to treat their patients and the issue will be solved with the opening of advanced hospitals.

He added: "People go to Herat, Kandahar and Kabul provinces for treatment of their patients, which is beyond some people’s affordability  We ask the Islamic Emirate to provide health services to people in their areas.”

Hamidullah, another resident of Badghis, was also happy with the opening of this hospital.

But he said the number of beds in the hospital should be increased and the hospital should operate permanently.

Hamidullah added that in addition to increasing the number of beds, more trained doctors and specialists should be recruited.

He says: "This hospital should be upgraded from 20 beds to 100 beds because the people of Badghis have to travel to even Pakistan for treatment.”

sa/ma