The 2nd regional seminar of medical experts was held in Mazar-e Sharif city, the capital of Northern Province of Balkh on 31^st may 2012. The seminar was organized by Afghan Pharma.

The seminar was attended by a number of national doctors, some international doctors and medical experts from Iran and Tajikistan and a number of representatives of the Wolesi Jirga or the lower house of the Afghan parliament.

The participants of the seminar discussed the medical situation in Afghanistan and standard medical equipment. International medical experts also introduced new equipment and advanced technologies to Afghan doctors.

Representatives of the house said that treatment has not improved in Afghanistan because the constitution of Afghanistan has bound the government to provide free medical services to the Afghan nation.

Based on the new draft law for the Ministry of Public Health, government doctors would be able to charge fees for services some certain treatments, representatives of the house added.

The Wolesi Jirga is working is on a draft version of new medical laws.  Based on those laws, every Afghan will be charged for medical services in governmental hospitals, according to Naqeebullah Faiq, a member of the Wolesi Jirga.

The implementation of those laws will result in improved medical treatments in the country and will also be good source of income for the government, after 2014, he added.

The representatives of the house also expressed concerns over the treatment of patients and said the health services in the country are not based on international standards.

They warned that if the government does not prevent the import of poor quality spices, the treatment of the patients will worsen.

Bayat Foundation officials continuing assistance to the poor people, this time visited the children with Leukemia diseases in Indira Ghandi children hospital in Kabul and promised for help.

The chairman of Bayat Foundation, Engineer Ehsanullah Bayat, visiting the child patients, assumed the full treatment of the children having Leukemia (blood-cancer) disease in Indira Ghandi Hospital, Kabul.

Leukemia is a fatal disease which is mostly common among children. Currently about 8 children are suffering from blood cancer in Indira Ghandi Childs Hospital.

Public Health Ministry officials expressed appreciation to the cooperation of Bayat foundation and said the main hurdles in the way of treating the patients were the bed shortages— asked Bayat Foundation for further attention to the treatment of the patients.

Indira Gandhi children hospital is one of the biggest pediatric hospitals in the Capital Kabul and its officials demand the government for greater attention to the hospital.

Bayat Foundation since its establishments up to now, besides building schools, has built 10 hospitals in different province of Afghanistan. The officials of Bayat Foundation said they have considered building more four Childs and maternal hospitals in Kunar, Zabul, Farah and Nimroz provinces.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) pledged to donate $6.1 million dollars to the Afghan Public Health Ministry to increase the capabilities of Afghan midwives.

“The pledged amount will be used to further reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the country.  Although 90% of the Afghan people are aware about the benefits of family planning, only 20%  of them observe it,” said Acting Health Minister Mrs. Suraya Daleel.

The UNFPA representative to Afghanistan, Dr. Laurent Zessler, said,  “UNFPA will continue its support to reduce maternal mortality and this support will become more effective in remote areas of Afghanistan.”

He said if expectant mothers get improved access to professional midwives; observe family planning; and get access to better health services; maternal mortality rates will be reduced.  He said that the UNFPA will continue to help as much as possible with the Afghan government to reduce such cases.

Health Ministry officials say that the maternal and child mortality rates have declined during the last 10 years from 3,027 deaths per 100,000 deliveries to 1,400 deaths per 100,000 deliveries

Afghan government asked all armed oppositions not to interrupt health services across Afghanistan.  The officials also called international community for further cooperation and support for better health services in Afghanistan.

Second Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili in said health sectors is one the important sectors and called on anti-government militants not to interrupt health services.   Mr. Khalili in added security and health sector may face serious challenges if international community does not take necessary measures to enhance capabilities.

Meanwhile, Acting Health Minister Suraya Daleel stated that this seminar focuses on the aspects of Health Ministry Strategic Plan for 2011 to 2015.  She added that the international community may decrease their assistance to Afghanistan after 2014 and desire international community continue political and financial support for expanding health services in Afghanistan.

While these concerns are expressed, the international community has committed in second Bonn Conference that they will continue their cooperation and assistance in Afghanistan after 2014.

A young woman in her first pregnancy gave birth to sextuplets, three boys and three girls at Saleha Bayat Hospital in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

The doctors say the health of five newborn babies is satisfactory while the weight of one of them is low and the risk of infant illness threatens him.

This young couple that live in a remote village in Balkh expressed gladness at the birth of these infants but are concerned about their future because of poverty.

Shokrollah, the father of these babies who is 27 years old, is now unemployed. Shokrollah says being unemployed, it is very difficult for him to nourish his children.

The mother and grandmother of the babies are also concerned about the nourishment of these children and asked the government for the assistance.

The birth of sextuplets and their better health has been rare in the history following to the high level of maternal mortality. Balkh is among the provinces where maternal mortality rate is low.

A maternity hospital inaugurated in Mir Bacha Kot district of Kabul. The hospital can provide health services also to some other northern districts of Kabul, health officials said.

The acting Health Affairs Minister Mrs. Suraya Daleel said the hospital was constructed under National Solidarity Programme (NSP) almost two years ago costing one Hundred and Ninety Thousand US Dollars but was inactive due to lack of professional staffs and necessary equipments.

The hospital will solve the problems of residents of some northern districts of Kabul and efforts are underway to increase the health staffs and also improve the quality of health services, Mrs. Daleel added.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Kabul Ahmadullah Alizai said no major development projects were implemented in some district of Kabul since last few years and some districts are still deprived of basic health services.

The residents of Mir Bacha Kot district are pleased with the activation of this hospital but say that this hospital would not be sufficient for such a populated district.

However, since last some years the government has been trying to expand basic health services in the country but Afghanistan is still at the forefront of countries that have high rates of maternal mortality.

A number of residents of Eastern Nuristan Province while criticizing the government said that they are faced with too many problems due to lack of public hospitals and health centers.

Although ten years have passed since the formation of new government but no effective work has done in Nuristan yet and this province has no provincial hospitals like other provinces, the residents added.

The residents said they are compelled to transfer their serious patients to other neighboring provinces while some of the patients lose their lives due to long distance.

Meanwhile, Nuristan Governor Tamim Nuristani also confirmed the mentioned issue and said that no effective progress has been made in the health sectors of the province since last ten years.

The Ministry of Health has approved the construction of 150-bed hospital in Nuristan and has dedicated five acres of land for hospital building, the Governor said.

Later, the Ministry reduced the number of beds and said that they will construct a 50-bed hospital but is not constructed yet, the Governor added.

Meanwhile, Ghulam Sakhi Kargar Noor Ughli, the spokesperson of health Ministry said that the Ministry failed to build the hospital due to geographical and financial problems.

Although, there isn’t any public hospital in Nuristan but there are 17 health clinics, he added.

Government and its international partners tried to provide better health facility country wide.    However, large amount are spent for providing health services in Afghanistan but the Health Ministry says that it can provide health services to only 62% of Afghan populations.

The officials at Environmental Protection Directorate in northern Baghlan province demand to reduce gas prices in order to attract more people towards its usage.

Currently, one kg LPG (gas) is sold on sixty five Afghanis [equal to $1.4]  while every seven kg wood is sold for one hundred and twenty Afghanis. [equal to $2.6]

Shah Nawaz Sharar; head of Baghlan Environmental Protection Directorate said that the air pollution will decline and cutting forest can be control if people use gas instead of wood.

Baghlan local residents said that they will reduce wood usage to counter air pollution and will mainly use gas in daily life.

Currently, environmental protection institutions concerned about the air pollution and said that if air pollution was not control, it may threaten people lives.

A number of Paktika residents complain the lack of doctors and health services in the public hospitals.

The residents said there are no professional doctors in Gardez Civil Hospital and they are treated by the nurses. The other problem is joint male and female departments therefore; some people avoid taking female patients to the hospital.

Along with central hospital, other provincial health centers are also faced with lack of female doctors. The Gardez hospital is the biggest provincial hospital but comprised of 50 beds, said deputy chief of Paktika health department Nazdana Paktiawal.

Lacks of female doctors, especially in remote areas are the major challenges for health services, health officials said.

Paktiawal said “now, we are having 50 health centers in Paktika that are providing health services for women and children. Our major problem is lack of female doctors in the district as there is just a female doctor in the central hospital.”

The Paktika health officials blame the central government for the lack of health services in the province.

Chief of Paktika health department Dr. Aqa Miakhail while criticizing the government said “the Public Health Ministry should dedicate a specific budget for the 20-bed hospital of Childs that was build two years ago by Bayat Foundation.”

While in the past two years, dozens of nurses and midwives have graduated from training centers in central Gardez but because of unsuitable conditions, they can’t go to the remote areas of the province.

Despite of less capacity in Kabul, the population is being increased that has created many health problems in the City, Health Ministry officials said.

Ministry of Public Health is working in collaboration with a number of other ministries to save the health of Kabul residents.

Deputy Public Health Minister Abdul Baseer Sarwar in a meeting with a number of representatives of different ministries regarding health project said “the purpose of the project is to find out possible solutions for current situations.”

Due to various diseases, they are trying to reduce pressures on the central hospitals, Mr. Sarwar added.

Excessive air pollution in Kabul has created many health concerns. Recently, President Karzai had also expressed concerns over worst weather conditions of Kabul City.

Overpopulation, disregards for the principles of urbanism and culture, lack of greeneries, the widespread use of improper fuel and damaged roads are the main factors of polluted environment of Kabul.

Although, efforts done from government institutions and donors to improve the environment of Kabul City but have not been very effective because of huge populations.

Number of children and women in remote parts of Paktia province were infected with diseases caused by malnutrition.

Residents expressed concern with the province of the diseases caused by malnutrition among children and women and said that for treatment of their patients they face with many problems.

Health officials in Paktia province confirming the problems say that Special section have been created in the clinic to address these problems.

“My son is too weak and can’t stand on his feet, this is my second child, also weak but my elder son is quite healthy”, a local resident said.

A representative doctor of “malnutrition prevention program” in Gardez civil hospital said that we have certain medical tests for children malnutrition problems.

If malnutrition were reported among the children, medicines and vitamins will be distributed to them

World Health Organization (WHO) has started talks with armed opponents that aimed to start polio vaccination in insecure areas of Afghanistan.

WHO in collaboration with the Afghan government and other international organizations would like to extend polio vaccination program in order to prevent more polio cases in country.

UNICEF (United Nations International Children Emergency Fund) officials in Afghanistan also stressed on importance of polio vaccines and said that polio vaccination for Afghan children is the top priority of Afghan government and its international partners.

Peter Crowley, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan said that insecurity must not be subjected as excuse for non-availability of polio vaccines in different areas.

Meanwhile, Japan government assisted more than $ 9 million to UNICEF to support polio vaccination in Afghanistan.

Health Ministry officials reported that 56 polio cases have been recorded this year, while this number was 25 last year.

Insecurity and non-cooperation among Afghanistan, India and Pakistan to fight polio disease are the main reasons of increasing polio cases in country, Health Ministry officials said.

Mostly Aids cases have been reported in drugs addicts in the country by using used-syringes, Health Ministry officials said.

Mrs. Suraya Daleel; acting health minister in a seminar regarding World AIDS Day in Kabul said that according to recent survey Aids virus are reported in one thousand two hundred and fifty people and currently this number may increased to three thousand.

According to Dr. Suraya Daleel, so far eleven people have lost their lives due to Aids virus.

Health Ministry has singed memorandum of understanding with the ministries of Justice, Hajj and Religious Affairs, Women Affairs and Refugees Repatriation to jointly fight against Aids.

Justice Minister Habibullah Ghalib emphasized on joint action against Aids and said that Aids is a life threat for human being and they should be aware of its side-effects.

So far, 36 million people have lost their lives due to AIDS and two hundred and four million others have Aids diseases worldwide.

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, gatherings were also organized in Balkh and Paktia provinces and this day has been observed since last twenty three years.

The maternal mortality rate has dropped in country, officials of health ministry said.

According to a latest survey that health ministry has committed in coordination of some international organizations, the maternal mortality rate is decrease as compare with last year’s but still a pregnant woman dies due to pregnancy problems in every two hours.

The survey was conducted in 34 provinces, take 8 months to complete and 22 thousand families and 47 thousand women were questioned regarding maternal mortality.

According to this survey, a pregnant woman dies in every 2 hours and from every 10 thousand pregnant women, one thousand and four die due to addle blood,   high blood pressure and some other problems.

According to this survey, only 35% of pregnant women give birth to their babies in presence of professional doctor or nurse.

One of every 13 new born babies die before the age of one year and one of every 10 babies; fewer than 5 years die due diseases,  officials of health ministry officials said.

The survey shows that the maternal mortality rate has dropped in Afghanistan and according to officials of health ministry, 60% of Afghan people have access to health facilities but still Afghanistan has the largest rate of maternal mortality on regional level.

Polio or poliomyelitis cases in the South Afghanistan doubled than past, Kandahar health officials said.

Head of Kandahar Public Health Department Abdul Qayum Pekhla in the opening ceremony of Polio vaccination campaign said that 26 polio cases are reported in Kandahar and 7 other same cases in remote areas.

Low level of people’s awareness and lack of workers’ access to remote workers are the cause of polio diseases in the province, he added.

According to him, more than one million children will be vaccinated within five years in Kandahar Province.

He demanded the influential people and provincial elders to support the health workers in vaccination of children.

Officials of public health ministry said that the Jamhoriat hospital will be equipped with international standard facilities within next three months.

They added that they have started talks with Chinese Embassy in Kabul and other international donors in this regard.

Mrs. Suraya Daleel, acting minister for the public health said that the Jamhoriat hospital will be equipped with modern health facilities in next few months.

She also said that they have started discussion with Chinese Embassy officials and some other international donors to assist in equipping this hospital.

She added that the new building of Jamhoriat hospital is not constructed on standard level and thus may not be equipped in mentioned time.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for ministry of public health earlier has said that there isn’t any problem for the ministry and they will effort to upgrade the hospital till next three months.

According to Mrs. Suraya Daleel, this hospital will turn into a regional health center after being fully equipped with modern services.

Currently, more than 65% Afghan have access to health services in country and this ratio will rise to 90% within next 5 years.

Two caches for solid and liquid dirt are planned to be built with the width of 40 acres of land in Ghazni province.

These two dirt caches will cost $ 1 million and two hundred thousand which will be paid by Ghazni provincial reconstruction team.

Ghazni Mayor Syed Baseer Noori calling construction of dirt caches one of the important projects in the province also says that the dirt that is collected by municipalities should be transferred to this reserve.

Ghazni Governor Muhammad Musa Akbarzada says that these two dirt caches are going to be constructed at a sum of $ 1 million and two hundred thousand funded by Ghazni PRT.

Officials at the Ministry of Health to provide better health services throughout the country in Eid Days

Along with health workers in Hospitals, additional health workers are also prepared for unexpected situations, said Health Ministry officials.

While the Doctors, in Kabul City ask the parents to be attentive towards their Children’s health.

Acting Health Minister Mrs. Suraya Daleel congratulating Eid to all Afghan people said that they have assigned additional health workers for better health services to the people, reported by Musafir Qoqandi ATN reporter.

Eid-ul-Adha is a grand religious festival and health workers also perform their duties well in such Holly Days, said Mrs. Suraya Daleel.

All Afghan people should be careful for their health in these days, she recommended.

The two-day workshop to review the tasks of National board of medicines and foods launched in Kabul.

Acting Health Minister Abdul Baseer Sarwary says that they want the cooperation of relevant institutions to prevent the import of expired medicines and low quality food materials.

About 5oo medical stores have been seized in accusation of selling expired medicines, he added.

While the people blame the Ministry of Public Health and call it an inadequate efforts by the Ministry.

The two-day workshop is being held to renew the tasks of National board of medicines and foods.

They are working on new plans of National board and with the cooperation of Interior and Defense Ministry they will prevent the imports and sells of expired and low quality medicines in the country, said Acting Health Minister Abdul Baseer Sarwary.

Officials of Central Konar Hospital say that because of huge rush of patients, there isn’t more capacity for them.

Head of Konar hospital wants the Central Government to upgrade the hospital into two hundred-bed hospital in order to solve the problems of patients.

Farooq sahak head of Central Konar Hospital says:

The hospital is equipped with adequate medical equipment and supplies but the building does not have the capacity to provide health services for all patients of Konar and Nuristan provinces.

He says that the numbers of patients are increasing day by day and Ministry of Health wants to build a new building and upgrade it to two hundred-bed hospital.

Currently the hospital has 115 beds for patients.