Press Release

Minister Fatamie presents Afghan health challenges to U.S. officials

Afghan Minister of Public Health outlines achievements and challenges.

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Thursday, August 14, 2008

His Excellency Dr. Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatamie, Minister of Public Health, presented Afghanistan’s challenges and accomplishments in the health sector to U.S. officials last week in Washington, DC.

Dr. Fatamie noted that many U.S. officials are aware of Afghanistan’s health achievements and progress, which provided him the opportunity to discuss challenges and priorities in the health sector with USAID Administrator and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance Henrietta Fore and other U.S. Government officials including Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky, and Secretary Mike Leavitt from the Department of Health and Human Services.

On July 22, Dr. Fatamie presented at the Global Health Council Partners’ Forum, where he focused on the Ministry of Public Health’s role and experience in rebuilding the country’s health system after over 20 years of war, as well as the particular problems of nutrition and the health of women and children in Afghanistan.  The Ministry of Public Health has improved the health status of the Afghan people and saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Afghans, especially women and children.  The number of Afghans with access to basic health services has risen from 8 percent in 2001 to over 80 percent today, and the under-five mortality rate dropped by approximately 25 percent between 2002 and 2007.  Dr. Fatamie attributes Afghanistan’s health improvements to mass immunizations, increased funding for community health workers, and the development of more sophisticated general and medical infrastructure. 

Under Dr. Fatamie’s leadership, the Ministry has demonstrated effective oversight of its funding and shown transparency and accountability in procurement and project management.  As a result, in July 2008, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan signed an agreement with the United States that enables the Ministry of Public Health to directly manage the delivery and funding of health programs in thirteen provinces through the provision of up to $218 million in health program funds from USAID over the next five years.  These funds will be used to deliver basic health services to more than 7 million people and will also include hospital services, immunizations, and laboratory equipment. 

USAID is currently providing the basic program of health services in the provinces of Badakshan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Faryab, Ghazni, Hirat, Jawzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Paktika, Paktia, and Takhar.  Other USAID programs support and promote healthy behaviors of individuals, families, and communites through mass media campaigns and increased access to public health services and products.

During discussions with U.S. Government officials from USAID and the Departments of State, Defense, and Health and Human Services, Dr. Fatamie requested additional support for strengthening health service delivery in Afghanistan.  Ministry priorities highlighted during these meetings include construction of health facilities, continued provision of basic health services, provision and expansion of diagnostic services and laboratory equipment, provision of drugs for control of seasonal diseases, expansion of health care provider pre-service training, and improvement in the Ministry’s management capabilities.