Feature: Health sector gradually recovers in post-war Afghanistan

KABUL, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) — Like other national infrastructures in Afghanistan, the health sector has been badly damaged due to decades of destructive wars in the war-battered country.
Although it took longer than expected to revitalize hospitals, particularly the state-run ones in the nation, the Afghan administration has been striving hard to revive the health sector.
“The situation of Afghanistan is clear to everyone that the country has experienced 45 years of war. Now security has returned, which facilitates us to bring positive change in the health sector,” Mir Wais, the head of the state-run Isteqlal (Independence) hospital, told Xinhua recently.
Nevertheless, the officials view that reviving Afghan hospitals requires more time and support from the international community to rehabilitate the health sector in Afghanistan.
Counting the positive change in the hospital, the hospital head noted that all the surgery operations are currently done by laparoscopy system instead of old-fashioned open operations.
“All the surgery operations are conducted via laparoscopy method in the hospital. We also have an equipped ICU ward where all patients in critical condition receive medical treatment free of charge. All the patients are satisfied with the services they receive there and it is a big achievement,” Wais, who is also a urologist, told Xinhua.
The 412-bed Isteqlal Hospital with 629 staff and employees is among the popular state-owned hospitals in the Afghan capital Kabul, which provided medical treatment mostly to victims of roadside bombs and suicide attacks in the past years, the official claimed, adding the hospital and its staff are currently providing medical treatment to the normal patients.
Several international aid agencies including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been supporting the health sector in the war-battered Afghanistan by providing medicines and even salaries to the hospital staff.
Suffering from prostate and hospitalized at the ICU ward of the Isteqlal Hospital, Wali Gul, who used to live as a refugee in Pakistan and returned home a few years ago, said that the war had destroyed his life and he cannot cultivate his farmland because of the U.S. forces bombardments that left the land with bomb lets and explosive devices.
“In the absence of war, we can build everything. The impact of war is destruction, death, and injuries. The war has destroyed Afghanistan,” Gul grumbled.
Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about the return of peace in Afghanistan, believing it puts the country on the right track, “We are hopeful to make ready my land for cultivation.”
Slamming the U.S. sanctions on Afghanistan and freezing the country’s more than 9 billion U.S. dollars as the reason for economic problems, the patient opined, “This is the right of Afghans to have their assets. This money should be unfrozen as soon as possible to help Afghans improve their economic situation.” ■