Zazi Aryub trader builds hospital to provide free services

GERDAZ (Pajhwok): Using his own money, a businessman in Zazi Aryub district of southeastern Paktia province has constructed a hospital which will provide free services to the people.

Sualiman Saleh, a trader who is living in a foreign country, told the opening ceremony the hospital built in remote Sara Gul area of the district consumed one million afghanis and took one year to complete.

He added the hospital has 22 beds, an emergency room, maternity ward, pediatric department, equipped laboratory and other necessary facilities.

All services would be provided free to residents of the area, he explained.

Saleh continued: “One of the main reasons to establish this hospital is to provide mothers with proper medical services during childbirth.”

Meanwhile, Acting Minister of Public Health Maulvi Noor Jalal Jalali said mother-child mortality rate would be reduced with the opening of the hospital.

He saided roads of the area were also in a deteriorated conditions and people could not easily take their patients to the provincial capital.

He visited the provincial hospital Gerdaz and found services there substandard.

On the other hand, the residents of the area expressed their pleasure over the construction of this hospital.

Rahmatullah Zazi, a tribal elder, said they had previously been facing many problems in access to health services.

He hoped their problems would be resolved with the opening of this hospital.

Residents in other areas of the province also lack access to health services.

kk/ma