Hospital building needs govt attention

GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Faced with likely collapse, the tottering Ghazni Civil Hospital building is yet to be vacated in defiance of warnings from technical experts.

Hospital Director Baz Mohammad Himmat told Pajhwok Afghan News a government-appointed team had found in 2011 that the building could cave in any time.

Over the past two years, he said, the issue had repeatedly been shared with the central government, but the problem was yet to be addressed.

Constructed 63 years ago, the building is made up of clay bricks and has been damaged by safety tanks in front of it.

“We’ve written so many times to the Ministry of Public Health about the hospital’s shaky building, but remedial measures have not been taken as yet,” Himmat complained.

The foundation stone of a 200-bed hospital was laid in Ghazni City four years ago, but work on the project was halted half way through for unknown reason, the director said.

Dr. Zia Gul Asfandi, the public health director, confirmed the ministry concerned was aware of the pitiable situation the hospital had been in.

Cracks appeared in the structure three years back, the official recalled, saying: “The ministry promised launching work on a new building at the start of the new Persian year.”

But Asfandi regretted: “Five months on, the project is yet to take off the ground.” The authorities are now urgently looking for a rented place to house the facility.

In its present form, the director admitted, the hospital could not meet the needs of patients from Ghazni and neighbouring provinces, including Zabul, Paktika and Maidan Wardak.

Provincial Council member Hamid Gulistani stressed the imperative of resolving the problem.  Work on the new building must resume as soon as possible, the public representative demanded.

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