Monitoring Desk
HERAT: Seven people suspected of being infected by COVID-19 who had escaped from the Herat provincial hospital returned, said one of the escapees.
The returned patient said that they left because of the inadequacy of the hospital, which lacked food and equipment.
On Monday 38, suspected patients, including one cpronavirus-positive patient, escaped from the hospital.
According to officials the coronavirus-positive person has not returned to the hospital.
“The patients protested against the facilities. They left the hospital. We also left the hospital. No one asked us why we left the hospital and where we were going,” said GhulamNabi, one of the patients.
“Nothing is available for people to eat. Some people need the hospital food,” said Fariba, another patient.
Herat’s provincial council members blamed the government for the poor facilities.
“They don’t have any facilities. Food is not available. The patients have a right to escape. If I was a patient, I would also escape,” said Kamran Alizia, head of the Herat provincial council.
“Unfortunately, the lab results are sent to Kabul and take time, so some people went outside the hospital,” said Noor Ahmad Haidari, a member of Herat’s provincial council.
Abdul Hakim Tamana, Herat’s public health director, confirmed the problems.
“We keep positive case patients in one corridor and we keep negative case patients in another corridor. In the rooms all patients use masks and maintain distance also,” said Tamana.
Abdul QayumRahimi, governor of Herat’s province blamed the Ministry of Public Health for the inadequate facilities.
“We have been looking for the deputy minister of public health for the past three days. The people, that we want to recruit, want high salaries,” said Rahimi.
Meanwhile, president Presidential Palace said in a statement that President Ghani allocated a 400 million Afs emergency budget for Herat province to fight the coronavirus.(TOLOnews)
