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Afghanistan

Estonia supports Helmand province central hospital in Afghanistan

The Estonian Foreign Ministry is supporting the improvement of electrical power supplies in Bost Hospital in Afghanistan's Helmand province. The central hospital will receive 400,000 kroons with the project. The sum is being allocated from the Foreign Ministry's development and humanitarian aid budget.

Afghanistan has some of the lowest human development indicators in the world. In order for the reconstruction of the nation to be successful, much cooperation is urgently needed in the realm of health care. "Supporting the Helmand province central hospital will improve the availability of medical care for the local population," said Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. "It will also help to create decent conditions for those who are in need," he added.

The Foreign Ministry is helping to supply the Helmand central hospital with electricity during the winter period. The necessary supply of diesel fuel will be obtained to power the hospital's electric generators. There are serious problems involved with supplying electricity to the hospital during the winter as electricity from the city's grid is only guaranteed for a few hours each day. The rest of the time, a separate electric generator must be used to light and heat the hospital rooms, as well as keep medical equipment running.

Bost Hospital is the largest and best hospital in Helmand province. There are 34 doctors working in the hospital, and up to 300 patients are treated there each day. This is a remarkable increase compared to previous years.

In 2007, Estonia supported the Helmand central hospital's pediatric ward with 1.1 millon kroons, which was used to purchase a portable oxygen generator as well as warming beds intended for underweight and premature infants.

Afghanistan is one of the world's poorest nations. A large part of the population lives in complete poverty, especially women and children. Close to 70% of people are illiterate, and 46% of Afghanistani children have no access to an education.

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