17 years on, hospital building awaits completion

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): A number of residents of southern Ghazni province have urged the caretaker government to complete long-delayed work on the building of the main provincial hospital, a project that began nearly two decades ago.

Construction work on the 300-bed hospital had been launched in 2008 by the Housing Construction Enterprise. However, the project was halted midway for different reasons.

Available data indicates that around 77 percent of construction was completed before the suspension of work on the scheme.

About a year ago, the National Development Company pledged to complete the remaining work within six months. Despite this commitment, progress stalled again after 90 percent of the building was constructed.

Local residents want the authorities to resume and complete the remaining work without further delay.

Abdul Hadi, a resident of Ghazni City, the provincial capital, said: “Once completed, this hospital will not only serve the people of Ghazni but also benefit nearby provinces by offering essential healthcare services.”

Zaitullah, another inhabitant, recalled: “Seventeen years ago, construction work began on provincial hospitals across the country, including Ghazni. Many of the buildings have deteriorated, while ours is still unfinished.”

Currently, services of the Ghazni Provincial Hospital are being provided in two small buildings originally established for drug treatment.

The buildings lack the capacity a provincial hospital should have and the facilities needed to meet the community healthcare needs.

Meanwhile, Public Health Director Dr. Mohammad Zairak assured work on the project would resume soon.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News construction work had been paused due to cold weather, but would restart shortly.

He added 49.5 million afghanis from the national budget had been earmarked for the remaining work.

Upon completion, the hospital is expected to provide much-needed healthcare services not only to the residents of Ghazni but also to people from Paktia, Paktika, Maidan Wardak, Daikundi, Uruzgan and Zabul.

kk/mud