Design phase completed for Balkh Hospital

Kabul: Germans with the International Security Assistance Force just completed the design phase for the reconstruction of the new Balkh Provincial Hospital in Mazar-e-Sharif. Construction will begin July of 2009, and is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

The hospital will be funded by the German Afghan Cooperation with donations from the government of Germany and the government of Sweden.

“This hospital is absolutely necessary,” said Michael Weinhara, a team leader for the reconstruction of the Balkh Hospital. “There are approximately 350,000 Afghans living in Mazar-e-Sharif and the surrounding suburbs. We take a great responsibility with the hospital because the people here desperately need it. ”

The original Balkh Hospital burst into flames in September 2006, leaving the main operating rooms, radiological department and laboratories in ruins.
Immediately after the fire, ISAF submitted the request to Germany to have the hospital rebuilt. Until then, Afghan doctors were still using parts of the old building that weren’t destroyed, but desperately need more space to treat their patients.
“When it is done it will be the best hospital in Afghanistan,” said Dr. Mirwais Rabi, the Balkh Provincial Public Health director. “But we still need additional funding for more equipment.”