RASC News Agency: Health sources in Herat report a significant increase in seasonal illnesses, particularly diarrhea and vomiting, among children as temperatures rise. Mirwais Abidi, head of the pediatric department at Herat Regional Hospital, stated that with the onset of summer and rising temperatures, seasonal illnesses among children have surged. He noted, “Daily, more than a thousand children under five are brought to this hospital due to illnesses, with the majority suffering from seasonal diseases like diarrhea and vomiting.”
The number of seasonal illness cases in this province is alarmingly high, with nearly 70-80 children daily seeking treatment at the regional hospital. It’s noteworthy that Herat Regional Hospital is not the only medical facility for treating patients in this province. Residents from neighboring provinces like Farah, Badghis, Ghor, and even Nimruz also bring their children here for treatment. Sources indicate that the shortage of doctors, lack of medicine, and insufficient beds for sick children are among the concerns facing many caregivers. Several parents who brought their children to Herat Regional Hospital reported that their children were not receiving adequate care and that there was a lack of necessary medical supplies.
Imamuddin, whose child has been hospitalized, stated that after six days of his child’s stay, no positive changes were observed. This resident of Golran district believes that if there were sufficient doctors and medicine, his child would have recovered by now. He said, “It’s the sixth night our child has been hospitalized. No doctor is present to check on the child. In these six nights, a doctor only saw him once. They don’t give medicine, saying there isn’t any.” The lack of medicine and doctors is not the only challenge caregivers face at Herat Regional Hospital. Caregivers also report that the shortage of beds has worsened the condition of sick children.
Abdulhai, a resident of Karukh district in Herat, whose three-year-old child is hospitalized, said his child’s condition has deteriorated compared to previous days. He attributes his child’s worsening condition to the current state of the pediatric department at Herat Regional Hospital. “This is not a hospital where patients get better. There are no doctors, no medicine for the patients. Four to five patients share one bed. In short, my child’s condition has worsened since bringing him here. Instead of getting better, children die here,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, caregivers from neighboring provinces who have come to Herat Regional Hospital report that the level of service is extremely poor and that treatment conditions in their home provinces are better. This surge in seasonal illnesses in Herat comes as doctors attribute the causes to environmental pollution, lack of personal hygiene, and the spread of the rotavirus in the summer. They state that consuming contaminated water and food leads to gastrointestinal infections and poisoning among children.
