BAMYAN (SW) – Anxieties are growing in Bamyan following cut in international aid to Afghanistan’s health sector in the wake of the Taliban takeover.
Hussain Mostamandyar, head of health services at the Aga Khan Health Services in Bamyan, said the cut in World Bank aid to Afghanistan had left the province’s health care sector short of funds to operations.
He hoped that the health department of the Aga Khan Development Foundation, which is responsible for about 90 percent of Bamyan health services, can keep the department active from its own budget. He, however, stressed that in the long run the organization will not be able to continue its programs without the help of the World Bank.
The head of health services of the Aga Khan Development Foundation in Bamyan added that the process of providing health services in the provincial center and districts of the province is going on normally and regularly for now. He believed that if the World Bank does not resume its assistance to Afghanistan, the healthcare sector will face major challenges in the future.
According to health officials at the Aga Khan Development Foundation, female health workers returned to work two days after the Taliban took control of Bamyan. But, in the early days of the Taliban’s takeover of Bamyan, at least 10 computers and five vehicles were stolen from the organization, and the vehicles were returned to the organization with the help of the Taliban, but the computers are still missing.
Health officials at the Aga Khan Development Foundation also said the Taliban have promised to work with them to pay salaries, provide food and provide facilities to health center staff.
ENDS.
