KABUL (SW) – Officials of the malnutrition department of the only health center in Gyan district of Paktika say that more than 30 patients, including pregnant women and malnourished children, visit this health center every day.
Last year, Gyan district was the witness of a deadly earthquake, as a result of which, hundreds of people died, many were injured, and almost all the villages of this district were turned into ruins.
Now, one year after the earthquake, health officials in Gyan district say that the residents of this district, especially women and children, have suffered from malnutrition due to lack of access to proper food.
Mina, the head of the malnutrition department of the health center, told Salam Watandar: “Every day, 10 to 30 malnourished patients visit this health center, among them are severe, semi-severe and very severe patients. Most of them are girls and young women, pregnant women and children.”
Meanwhile, the residents of Gyan district say that their children are malnourished because they are not able to provide food and a suitable place to live.
Wali Marjan, a resident of Gyan district, said that most of those who suffer from malnutrition are children who lost their mothers in last year’s earthquake. He added: “They are suffering from various diseases. We must be helped, but no help has been given to us in this regard.”
Alamuddin, another resident of Gyan district, also said that in addition to malnutrition, the severe heat has also caused them problems. “The problem of child malnutrition is very high here. There is a shortage of everything. Our request is that our sorrow should be resolved. We are very disappointed.”
The residents of Gyan district also say that due to the lack of clean water, cholera has also increased among children. According to them, the only health center in this district is small and does not have the capacity to receive and treat many patients.
However, Fazl-ul-Rahman Wazir, the health official of Gyan district, confirming this issue, says that the population in this district is high, but the health center is small and according to him, not all patients are provided with medical services on time.
He added that daily more than 120 people suffering from various diseases visit the local health center, but this center does not have the capacity to treat this number of patients.
Fazal Rahman Wazir said: “Now that the weather is hot, the number of patients with diarrhea and sore throat has increased. The reason is that cleanliness is not ensured and there is a lack of clean water.”
ENDS
