Helmand actor says he may give up son if someone pays for treatment
Ismatullah Afghan, a film actor in Helmand province, says his inability to pay for his sick son’s treatment has forced him to announce that he is willing to give his child to anyone who will cover the cost of his care.
In a video posted on Monday, 9 Sunbula, he said his son has been hospitalised in a hospital in Helmand for nearly a month and that his family cannot afford the medical expenses.
According to Ismatullah Afghan, in the past three decades he has never faced such a difficult situation. He added that he made the appeal out of desperation and sees no other way forward.
The actor said he is ready to hand over his son to anyone who pays for his treatment, especially if that person does not have children.
The incident comes as economic hardship and reduced household financial capacity in Afghanistan have limited many residents’ access to healthcare services. In the years since the Taliban returned to power, poverty, unemployment and the cost-of-living crisis have also been reported as among the main challenges facing Afghan citizens.
