Phone-based health service launched in Kabul

KABUL (MoPH) on Wednesday inaugurated the first-ever telephone-based health advice service at the state-owned republic hospital in Kabul.

MoPH deputy financial and administrative director Dr Abdul Basir Sarwar told the inauguration ceremony that anyone seeking free health advise should dial 166 from his/her phone.

The service was available on Salaam, Etisalat, AWCC and Roshan mobile operators and would be made available on MTN soon, he said.

Sarwar said the hotline could be used for advises about the importance of vaccination, breastfeeding, complementary food for infants, tips before and after childbirth, the importance of iodized salt, vitamins deficiency in children and the benefits of sun’s rays.

The service center has the capability to answer 350 calls a day by six specialists including three females to the callers, he said, adding the service would be available from 8am to 4pm.

About the achievements in the health sector, the official said, the sector had significantly improved during the past 12 years, but some problems remained. “Most of the problems are not a lack of health services, but the lack of awareness about health facilities,” he added.

Sarwar said the center could help people improve their awareness about health affairs. He said the MoPH planned to improve the capacity and quality of the service.

mds/ma

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