A New Maternity, Neonatal And Surgical Hospital-And A New Era Of Advanced Healthcare For All Afghans
On Monday April 2nd, on behalf of The Bayat Foundation, it was my tremendous privilege and honor to launch the construction of The Bayat Maternity and Neonatal Hospital—and usher in a new era of hope, health and healing for all Afghans.
The new Bayat Maternity and Neonatal Hospital is a cooperative project of The Bayat Foundation, The Matter Organization (www.matter.ngo) and the Afghanistan Ministry of Health (http://moph.gov.af). When the hospital is completed, it will be 25,000 square foot, four-floor state of the art Maternal, Neonatal, Surgical and Cancer treatment center, which will be dedicated to serving and strengthening the health of all Afghans.
Today, one of our nation’s greatest challenges is providing women with the specialized treatments they need to prevent injuries during childbirth, and also, providing them with the medical expertise that can diagnose and treat the types of Cancers which affect women.
Providing the specialized medical care that can save thousands of lives, will be the primary mission of the new Bayat Maternity and Neonatal Hospital. From its first day of operation, the hospital will be able to provide its patients with the most advanced levels of Surgical, Maternal, Pediatric and Cancer Treatment available in Afghanistan.
The Bayat Maternity and Neonatal Hospital will have five specialist healthcare centers:
- Women’s Surgical Theater (with a special focus on fistula treatment and recovery)
- Pediatric Audiology Clinic
- Endoscopy Clinic
- Eye Clinic
- Women’s Cancer Clinic
These five specialized healthcare capabilities, together with the Hospital’s Blood Bank, will be able to provide highly specific treatments which are currently unavailable from other hospitals and healthcare centers in Afghanistan. The Women’s Surgical Center will be Afghanistan’s only healthcare center that will provide diagnosis and treatment if Obstetric Fistula, a devastating childbirth injury which occurs when women give birth without hospital facilities, or medically trained attendants. The condition renders women incontinent, which can result in physical or social harm to those suffering from the affliction.
In addition to specialized surgical treatments, the Hospital’s Women’s Cancer Center will provide essential screening, diagnosis and treatment capabilities which will address—and reduce—the rising levels of Cervical Cancer among Afghan women.
Just imagine if you or a loved one suffered from a hearing impairment that inhibits the ability to study, work, and live a normal life. Now, the doctors working within the new Hospital’s Pediatric Audiology Clinic, will be able to treat deafness and hearing problems that today affect thousands of our children. Since 2014, the Bayat Foundation, together with our partner, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, have conducted hearing care missions throughout Afghanistan which have brought the gift of hearing to over 3,000 Afghans. The new hospital will be able to expand the Bayat Foundation’s commitment—but most importantly, our capacity—to end deafness in Afghanistan, especially among Afghan children.
Since 2006, The Bayat Foundation has built or refurbished thirteen hospitals located throughout our country. These hospitals have provided life-saving medical treatment to more than 2,000,000 people—including 1,500,000 mothers and their children. We all should take heart in the progress we have made in providing basic healthcare to millions of Afghans.
Yet, for all of our forward steps, our mission to provide healthcare to all Afghans remains unfinished. And that mission will be accomplished only when every Afghan can receive reliable modern healthcare, and enjoy good health, which is essential for building a proud and promising life.
“It is not to live, but to be healthy, that makes a life.” This great wisdom, provided by the Roman poet Marital, remains as true for us today, as in the time he bequeathed this guidance to the world, nearly 2000 years ago. The Bayat Foundation is committed to helping every Afghan enjoy the best possible health and we look forward to the day—a day that is coming very soon—when The Bayat Maternity and Neonatal Hospital will start providing all Afghans with the best healthcare possible.
Until next time,
Ehsan
Dr. Ehsanollah Bayat
Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Founder and CEO, Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC)
Founder and CEO, Ariana Television and Radio (ATN)
Founder, Bayat Foundation
