Helmand, Afghanistan: Improved Security Situation Leads to Large Numbers of Patients

Apr 12, 2022

In Lashkar Gah, Helmand province of Afghanistan, MSF supports the 300-bed Boost hospital. MSF is currently supporting the emergency room, surgical department, inpatient department, maternity department, neonatology unit, laboratory and radiology department, as well as the paediatric department. There is also an inpatient therapeutic feeding centre.

The hospital is a lifeline for people in Helmand and neighbouring provinces, providing secondary healthcare that is not easily found elsewhere. Since the end of the conflict in August 2021 there have been huge numbers of patients coming to the hospital, partly due to the improved security situation making it easier for patients to travel, and the lack of functioning healthcare facilities elsewhere.

In 2021, over 164,000 patients came to the emergency room with over 30,900 admitted to hospital. The hospital assisted over 18,900 deliveries, admitted over 3,200 severely malnourished children and carried out over 6,900 surgical interventions.

Paediatric Department Siddiqullah, 10 years old, has pneumonia and severe sepsis due to measles. His mother gives him a glass of milk.

ITFC Ahmad, one and a half months old, has malnutrition. His mother Bibi Hajira, 16 years old, brought him to the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre at the Boost hospital.

Neonatal Intensive Care Aisha, three days old, is treated for sepsis at the neonatal intensive care unit at the Boost hospital.

Out-Patient department Haju Bari Jan, 63, receives a prescription from an MSF doctor to alleviate his back and body pain.

Emergency department An MSF doctor treats Qadratullah, 8, who has had an abscess on his left arm for the last nine days.

IDP Aina, 55, has asthma and was admitted to the inpatient department three days ago.

Maternity Unit Caretakers of pregnant women wait outside the maternity unit at the Boost hospital.

Male Emergency Male patients wait for an MSF nurse to take their vital signs in the triage area of the emergency room.

ITFC Ahmad, 6 years old, from Musa Qala district was admitted 3 days ago to the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre at the MSF-supported Boost hospital in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province. As well as being malnourished, he has tuberculosis. His mother Saddiaq, 30, brought him to hospital and has three other children.

Paediatric Intensive Care Due to high numbers of patients needing treatment there are two children sharing a bed at the paediatric intensive care unit at the MSF-supported Boost hospital in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province.

Maternity Department A pregnant woman prepares to give birth in the labor room of the maternity department at the Boost hospital.

ITFC The inpatient therapeutic feeding centre at the Boost hospital. Because of the large number of admissions two patients and their caretakers have to share one bed.

ITFC Hazrat, six months old, has been receiving treatment at the inpatient therapeutic feeding centre at the MSF-supported Boost hospital in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, for the last 12 days. The red colour shown on the MUAC (Mid Upper Arm Circumference) indicates that Hazrat is severely malnourished.