19 June 2017 – WHO supports the provision of trauma care services in Helmand province through a 90-bed Surgical Centre for war victims and 6 first aid trauma posts operated by Emergency, an Italian NGO. Funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has enabled WHO to support the full operation of the hospital, including the purchasing of essential medical supplies, equipment and medicines and training health workers on mass casualty management and first aid.
From June 2016 to March 2017, the Emergency Surgical Centre treated over 6500 trauma patients while Emergency’s s first aid trauma posts supported by WHO and ECHO stabilized and treated over 10 000 casualties and referred over 500 patients to the main hospital in Lashkar Gah.
Through this photo essay, meet some of the patients being treated at the hospital and the health workers saving lives, making a difference to communities in Lashkar Gah and beyond.
Credit: WHO Afghanistan/G.Elham
“I lost my leg to a roadside bomb in the Nawzad district. My older brother also lost his leg, another one lost his hand and my son Latifullah, 11, lost a finger. Now I come to this hospital twice a week for my check-ups and I am really happy with the services they provide here. All the staff are working very hard and they are doing their best,” said Najibullah, sitting next to his son Latifullah in the courtyard of the Emergency hospital.