Residents of Marja district in Helmand are calling for solutions to existing health challenges and are requesting authorities upgrade the district's 10-bed hospital to 50 beds.

According to them, the 10-bed hospital in Marja district is not meeting the needs of the district's residents due to a shortage of medical equipment and experienced doctors, forcing them to transfer patients to  Lashkargah city for treatment.

Ahmad Javid, a resident of Marja district, said: "Marja district is very large, almost as large as four districts combined; it is very big."

Gul Ahmad, another resident, said: "This hospital needs to be expanded because there are no ultrasound machines or other essential equipment to solve the people's problems."

Abdul Salam, another resident, said: "This hospital is very small; we want it to be expanded because the district is large, and this is not enough."

However, local officials in the Marja district state that they have discussed the issue of upgrading the hospital and the lack of medical equipment with the provincial administration.

Naqibullah Azimi, Deputy Director of Marja Hospital, said: "This hospital is the only 24-hour hospital for the densely populated Marja district and provides services to the people of this district."

Marja district, located in the west of Lashkargah city, Helmand province, has been deprived of development projects due to two decades of conflict and currently lacks access to basic life services.