The Afghan Red Crescent Society, under the administration of the Taliban, has announced the opening of a specialized hospital in Kabul for the treatment of children suffering from congenital heart defects known as “hole in the heart” disease. The inauguration ceremony of the medical facility was held on Sunday, 11 Asad, with the participation of several Taliban officials.
Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said during the ceremony that the hospital has the capacity to treat 2,000 children with the condition annually. According to him, the facility will provide free, round-the-clock medical services to patients.
The hospital was constructed at a cost of $6.5 million in the Yakhtoot area of Kabul’s ninth district. According to the information provided, approximately $4 million of the total cost was allocated for medical equipment, and the facility includes 50 beds and fully equipped operating rooms.
Officials said that all patients treated at the hospital will be children suffering from congenital heart defects, and their treatment will be supported by the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Previously, many of these patients were referred abroad, including to India, for treatment or were directed to private hospitals in Kabul.
Shahabuddin Delawar also announced that over the past five years, 15,000 children with the condition have been treated at hospitals inside Afghanistan. He said the treatment costs for these patients were covered by the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
Previously, many children diagnosed with this condition had to wait months or even years for surgery, and some lost their lives due to delays in receiving treatment. The opening of this hospital is expected to increase treatment capacity and improve children’s access to specialized medical services.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
