5 family health centres to get new buildings in Khost

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Construction work has been initiated on building for five family health centres in southeastern Khost province.

Funded by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the new buildings are estimated to cost 300,000 US dollars and are being constructed in Ismailkhel Mandozi, Sapira, Tani and Zazi Maidan districts, Public Health Department official Zabihullah Haris told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said nutrition, vaccinations and psychological counseling programmes would also be provided in these health centres in addition to mother and child services.

He added every family health centres would have eight rooms and will cost 60,000 US dollars.

He explained: “One of the principles of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)  is to provide health services to the people near their homes. Considering this principle, we are committed to providing health services in remote areas of Afghanistan.

“A family health centre will be built in areas which are five kilometres away from a health centre. As many as 550 family health centres are currently functioning across the country and 170 of them have proper buildings,” Haris said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Public Health Dr. Abdul Wali Haqqani said that the construction of these five family health centers will bring positive changes in the lives of thousands of mothers and their family members.

He said this was an important step in strengthening health services in the province.

He added: "Our goal is to providing quality and appropriate health services to mothers and children, mothers are the main part of our society and we believe that they play a key role in the future of society.

On other hand, residents of these districts are also happy over the construction of buildings for family health centres.

Akhtar Badshah, an inhabitant of Ismailkhel Mandzi district, told Pajhwok: "We are pleased over the construction of a family health cetnre. The maternity rate would be reduced with execution of the project.

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