The House of Representatives on Monday’s plenary session questioned acting Public Health Minister in relation to outbreak and spread of the 3^rd wave of Coronavirus (Covid 19) in the country.

The session was held under the chairmanship of Mir Rahman Rahmani with the participation of Acting Public Health Minister, Wahid Majrooh, and deputy state minister for parliamentary affairs, Sayed Ali Kazimi.

Initially, members of the session by expressing their concerns in relation to health condition and outbreak of the 3^rd wave of Covid 19 in the country, presented their questions about lockdown condition, lack of sufficient Oxygen and medical equipment at the Covid specialized hospitals, broadcasting of publicity programs for public awareness, lack of precautionary measures for struggle against the 3^rd wave of Coronavirus, widespread corruption for purchasing of Oxygen balloons, commitments of the supporters countries, mandatory use from mask at the crowded areas, peoples’ concerns for side effect of the Covid 19 vaccine injection, shortage of intensive care unit(ICU) specialists at the Ali Jennah hospital and submitting of correct figures about death and affected patients of Covid 19.

In answer to MPs questions, acting Public Health Minister said, despite many problems which ministry of public health was faced with that, but, we were able to maintain our health.

Majrooh went on to say, ministry of public health had created 25 mobile laboratories in 24 provinces of the country and by release publicity programs could upgraded 90% of public awareness for preventing of Coronavirus also we delivered vaccine for security forces, health personal and people as well.

“We efforts to justly distribute the China’s donated 700,000 Doses of Covid 19 vaccine for all the country’s provinces, Marooh said”.

Overall, Majrooh assured that our compatriots are not facing with shortage of Oxygen, adding, ministry of public health with day and night efforts could install the ventilators (Oxygen Machines) at the Covid 19 hospitals in Kabul city in order to prevent for further mortality of Coronavirus patients.

Majrooh went on to say, we have purchased 3,500 Oxygen balloons from Iran and soon will be reached to the country’s hospitals also the problems of medicine soon will be solved.

Public health minister asked people to be serious against Coronavirus and should consider for all advises of the health ministry for using of mask and avoiding from crowded areas.

The Lower House of Parliament Chairman, Mir Rahman Rahmani by expressing of appreciation for day and night efforts of doctors and public health ministry who are in first line of battle against Covid 19, said, we hopes all people take practical action for guide and advices of public health ministry in order to jointly struggle against such killer virus.

In the sideline of session, legislators expressed their concerns in relation to increase of insecurity in Badghis, Ghor, Farah, Faryab, Balkh, Nimroze, Kunduz, Zabul and Nooristan provinces and collapsing of a few districts into the Taliban hand including silence of security officials for ensure of security, adding, now war is ongoing between security forces and Taliban in these provinces, if attention not paid by government for the security challenge, perhaps, further districts will be collapsed into the Taliban hand.

Discharging of Noorstan’s youth from government’s administrations, problems in distributing of electronic identity cards (Tazkera) in Zabul province, corruption in contracts of interior affairs ministry and customs of the country specific corruption in Nangarhar and Aqina customs, and problems of retired were the issues discussed in today’s session, MPs asked related officials to take serious and comprehensive measures for solving of peoples’ problems.

At the meantime, the House Speaker, Mir Rahman Rahmani expressed his concern about fragile security condition and increase of terrorist attacks in West of Kabul city, he went on to say, in such condition our compatriots are facing with mentality pressures, so, we asks government to pay urgent attention for ensure of security to people, he instructed to security and defensive affairs commissions to discuss with security officials about the current condition of the country and result of that should be presented in plenary session.

Likewise, Rahmani expressed his sympathy massage for the death of Ex-governor for Samangan province, Abdul Latif Ebrahimi, lawmaker for 16^th legislative term of Wolesi Jirga Dr. Fazlullah Mujadadi, Ex-deputy for ministry of information and culture, Rasool Bawari, Abdul Ali Kargar, President’s advisor, Nabi Mesdaq, commander Matiullah Khan and Dr. Mujtaba who were affected with covid 19.

In relation to shortage of Oxygen, discharging of Nooristan’s youth and existence of corruption in ministry of interior affairs and the country’s customs, Rahmani instructed to related commissions to discuss about the aforementioned issues with related officials and result of that should be presented in plenary session.

Translator: Mustafa Akrami, June 14, 2021