Samangan provincial hospital upgraded to 240 beds

AIBAK (Pajhwok): The provincial hospital in northern Samangan province has been upgraded from 80 to 240 beds and ICU and infectious diseases services in the hospital have also been activated.

Dr. Syed Usman Hamidi, director of the provincial hospital "Shahieed Dr. Ikramuddin Wakilzadeh hospital" told Pajhwok Afghan News after hectic efforts the hospital was upgraded from 80 to 240 beds.

He said in the past there were no eye, ear and throat, skin, mental health, infectious diseases and ICU departments in the hospital, but with its up-gradation and adding new facilities, these problems will be solved.

The provincial hospital that provides health services to the people of Aibak and districts had previously 193 personnel. It was upgraded to 240 beds and its staff increased to 481.

Dr. Atta Mohammad Fatah, the head of the emergency department, said the hospital’s up-gradation resolved many problems.

He said: “In the past, we faced a shortage of personnel and beds, and most of the departments did not exist and patients were facing problems. After increasing the personnel, the problems of residents will be solved."

Maulvi Ahmad Khan, relative of a patient, expressed satisfaction with services at the hospital and said: "In the past, I would take patients to the zone hospital of Balkh province for treatment."

He said after up-gradation of the hospital and increase in the number of doctors, more attention would be paid to patients.

Sharafuddin, relative of another patient, said the local government of Samangan should build clinics in villages because people had to travel to Aibak for hours. “If we don’t arrive soon, our patient may die.”

Meanwhile, Maulvi Mohabibullah Bahari, head of the provincial Public Health Department, said they had provided 28 different medicines worth one million afghanis to the provincial hospital in cooperation of partner institutions.

He acknowledged the shortage of clinics in districts and said nearly 50 health clinics were operating in the provincial capital and districts and 14 of them were without buildings in villages.

He said efforts were being made to solve health related problems of the residents of the province.

kk/ma