KABUL - The public health situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, says an international humanitarian organisation.
The head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) -- also known as Doctors Without Borders -- said in an interview they were concerned over the worsening situation.
Dojen Besselink, the head of MSF mission for Afghanistan, said: “People come to our centers; they travel long hours, simply because they cannot find healthcare where they live.”
Speaking to Sputnik, he said: “I think we had a few patients research. So 50-55 percent of our patients actually said they come to our hospitals because they cannot find any in the area where they live ...”
He deplored declining donors’ funding, saying there were a lot of constraints for the people. The MSF is currently implementing projects in six Afghan provinces.
Their experience showed that over the past 10 years, the quality of medical services in the country had significantly decreased, Besselink added.
“In principle, MSF talks to everyone. If you want to be present in a region, you need to negotiate with everyone. All parties to the conflict need to understand who you are…”
Te MSF did not receive any support from the Afghan government but coordinated its actions with Kabul, which did not prevent the mission from acting independently, he concluded. (Pajhwok)