NGO-funded 8 health clinics cease services in Paktia

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Eight health clinics have recently stopped delivering services to people in some densely populated districts of southeastern Paktia province, residents and their representatives on said Wednesday.

Provincial council (PC) secretary Hafeezullah Mubariz told Pajhwok Afghan News some non-governmental organizations had been running the eight health clinics but they were closed after the NGOs stopped funding the facilities.

Mubariz was speaking at the introductory gathering of the new public health director for Paktia, saying health facilities in Zazi Aryub and Chamkani districts needed urgent attention. He said the two 20-bed health clinics could not afford to handle patients coming from neighboring districts.

Deputy governor Abdul Wali Sahi acknowledged that health services in Paktia were insufficient and complained the central government provided funds to the province under a two-decade old formula.

“Afghanistan’s population reached from 17 million to 32 million, but the central government still thinks Paktia has the same population.”

Participants of the event called as insufficient health services offered by the provincial civil hospital and asked the government to provide more doctors and equipment to the hospital.

The new public health director, Dr. Wilayat Khan Ahmdzai, said health clinics closed in Lazha wa Mangal, Zazi Aryub and Chamkani districts would be reopened soon.

He said he had shared the issue with the Public Health Ministry and had asked World Health Organization to prepare a proposal in this regard.

Currently one Red Cross run hospital, 46 clinics, one drug addict rehab centre and nine mobile health teams have been operating in Paktia.

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