The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced the establishment of 18 new family health centers in the earthquake-hit areas in Paktika in the country southeast, in an effort to expand its services for
women, girls, and children.
The establishment of the family health centers has been announced in a tweet by the UNFPA’s representative in Afghanistan.
In a tweet, Dr. Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Afghanistan said that 18 new family health centers had been set up in the earthquake hit areas in Afghanistan southeastern province of Paktika.
“The 18 family health centers will provide 24-hour care for pregnant women and babies in addition to providing other life-saving maternal, reproductive and newborn services,” Dr. Alexsandar said. Following a deadly earthquake in Paktika province four months ago that killed over a thousand people, residents have complained about a lack of basic health services. Although some health national and international agencies have temporality provided health services to the families affected by the earthquake in the province, the people particularly women still do not have access to healthcare services in the earthquake areas in the province.
Establishment of new family health centers for the population particularly those affected by recent earthquake in Bermal, Gayan and nearby districts will benefit hundreds of families in the province.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) reported that the earthquake destroyed approximately 2,100 houses in Gayan and Barmal districts of Paktika province, as well as the Spera district of Khost province.
According to WFP report, 1000 houses were destroyed in Gayan district, 300 houses in Paktika province’s Barmal district, and 800 other residential houses in Khost province.
The destruction of residential and other service structures made essential services inaccessible to the affected people, and it was even reported that the quake-affected region could be the site of a
disease outbreak.
Mohammad Daud
UNFPA launches family health centers in earthquake-hit Paktika
