FARAH CITY (SW): Up to 25 public health centers are shut due to warning by the Taliban in Farah province.
Local authorities have said these closed health centers are located in Sheb Koh, Posht Koh, Bala Bolook and Khak-i-Safid districts of the province.
Mohammad Nasir Mehri, provincial governor’s spokesman, told Salam Watandar that the Taliban had asked the directorate of public health (DoPH) in Farah to open surgery section in these centers few days ago. When the provincial DoPH declined the request of the Taliban these centers were shut by force. “The governor has ordered the security forces to re-open the health centers for public, and provide extra security at these centers”, informed Mehri.
Abdul Jabar Shayiq, director for public health, said few health centers are shut due to the Taliban’s threats in Postrod and Khak-i-Safid districts, but the rest of the centers are operational. “In meetings with provincial council members, we have demanded re-opening of the health centers”, added Shayiq.
Civil society activists in the province believe that the shutting down of the health centers will leave detrimental impacts of the people’s lives.
ENDS
