KHOST CITY (SW): With an estimated population of one and a half million, residents in south eastern Khost province lament that they have only one public hospital that cannot serve all, particularly those residing in the far away districts.
The provincial council members assert that child-birth related mortalities are particularly high in the far away districts like Sabrio, Baak, Zazai Maidan and Alisher due to dearth of health services.
Noor Shah Noorani, member of health committee at the provincial council told Salam Watandar that in comparison to the population, the public hospital at the provincial capital is not sufficient at all. He particularly mentioned the four districts as worst hit by lack of health centers. Noorani underlined that the 100-bed hospital in Khost City cannot meet the demands of the patients.
The residents in these far away districts regret that the government has neglected them in the reconstruction drive during the past many years. Kashmir Khan, a resident of Zazai Maidan districts said that he has witnessed a number of women and newborn die due to lack of health services here. He added that many patients go on the long and tiring journey towards Pakistan for serious health issues.
Dr. Gul Mohammaduddin Mohammadi, interim head for public health in the district said in this regard that there is no denial to the fact that residents in Khost are deprived of health services. He however, promised that soon a 30-bed hospital would be constructed for residents in these far away areas. He noted that the Ministry of Finance has granted $ 1 million for this project that would be spent in two years’ time.
ENDS
