120 addicts get treatment at Paktia Hospital

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): After the Pajhwok Afghan News earlier report about the closure of Drug Addicts’ Hospital in southeastern Paktia province, the facility was reopened and so far 120 addicts had received treatment, an official said on Monday.

Pajhwok Afghan News last year in December published a report about the closure of drug addicts’ hospital in the province.

Mawlavi Khair Mohammad Mansour, head of the Paktia Public Health Department, said this hospital was closed in 2022 due to some problems and was reopened early this solar year.

He said so far 120 drug addicts received treatment in this hospital.

Mawlavi Khair Mohammad said: “In 2022, the hospital was closed due to some problems but due to the efforts of the Public Health Department in 2023 the hospital was made operational and is opened until now.”

Drug addicts receiving treatment in the hospital were happy over the free of cost treatment.

Rafiullah, one of the drug addicts getting treatment in the hospital, said he became drug addict due to unemployment. “Due to poverty I addicted to drugs, now I am fine, I am happy from all the doctors and staff here, now I have decided to be return to addiction and will work when I get an opportunity.”

According to the local officials with the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), some facilities had been arranged for the hospital and some rehabilitation work was also conducted.

On the direction of the acting government a nationwide campaign of rounding up drug addicts had been launched.

nh