Covid-19 cases up by 61pc recently in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Health officials in western Herat province have recorded a 61 percent surge in positive Covid-19 cases during the fourth wave of the pandemic.

Dr. Ahmad AmeerNazad, head of the Public Health Department Surveillance, told Pajhwok Afghan News around 1,094 suspected samples had been taken for test in the first 10 days of February in which 669 people tested positive, showing 61.2 percent surge in positive cases in the province.

He said among 669 positive cases, 444 were women and 225 were men.

“Covid-19 cases were on the rise, last week a 30 percent surge was recorded while this week it was showing 61 percent surge,” he said.

Dr. Abdul MananAzadmnish, head of the Shaidae Covid-19 Hospital in Herat City, said on average level 30 to 35 persons daily tested positive for Covid-19 since January 22.

He expressed worry over the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases and said over 50 percent patients were women.

Dr. Azadmnish said: “The number of patients suffering from Covid-19 is on the increase in Shaidae Hospital. Lately over 40 persons visited the hospital with Covid-19 symptoms that made us worried.”

Meanwhile, according to reports from different provinces, nobody is safe from the respiratory disease during its fourth wave. In the past, children were safe from Covid-19 but this time even children are not safe and they fall victims to the deadly virus.

Abdul Waheed, a resident of Herat, who is hospitalized at Shaidai Hospital for treatment, told Pajhwok Afghan News he was in the hospital from the past five days and he was feeling better.

He said initially, he had fever, flue and body pain but later he was struggling with respiration and that forced him to come to the hospital.

Doctors said Abdul Waheed’s body was strong and his immune system was doing well thus with the help of ventilator he recovered.

Abdul Aziz, another Covid-19 patient, said all facilities in the hospital were available to them.

“Doctors in Shaidae Hospital are doing their best for our health and I want all the people to pay attention to their health and ensure they don’t contract the virus,” he said.

Health experts and physicians have warned Covid-19 may further spread if people ignored the implementation of precautionary measures.

Dr. Abdul ZahirZaheer, one of the Herat doctors, said people have to be careful when it comes to spread of Covid-19.

Delay in health officials’ salary

With the surge in Covid-19 cases, the delay in salary payment of Shaidae Hospitals doctors and staff members is another point of concern.

Some doctors say they are unpaid from the past six months despite regular attendance and offering services.

One of the doctors, wishing not to be named, said despite their protests the fate of their salaries remained unknown.

“We shared this problem with the Governor Office, they made assurances but no

practical step has been taken to address our salary issue,” he said.

Hospital Head Dr. Radmanish said he was in contact with relevant organisations about salary payment and assured that salaries would be provided soon.

It is worth mentioning that some days back Shaidae Hospital doctors staged protest and demanded their salaries.

nh/ma