The Afghan Family Health Book
Remarks by Ambassador Said T. Jawad
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
08/03/2004
Secretary Tommy Thompson,
Undersecretary Paula Dobriansky,
Mr. Tom Kalinske,
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is a great pleasure for me to join you in launching
the Afghan Family Health Book. This project would have not been
possible without the support and the leadership of the Department
of Health and Human Services.
I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to Secretary
Thompson for his commitment to help the Afghan people.
Secretary Thompson, you have backed your commitment
with solid actions. You, like Secretary Dobriansky, have traveled
to Afghanistan to personally assess our needs, and have taken
a personal interest to improve the health care sector in my
country. We appreciate this very much.
Ladies and gentlemen:
Afghans were deprived of their basic human rights
by foreign invasions, 3 decades of war, violence, and the terror
and tyranny of Taliban. Access to basic health services was
denied to most Afghans.
Consequently, Afghans have a life expectancy of
42 years, among the lowest in the world. Infant mortality is
165 per 1,000 life births. One out of five children dies before
reaching the age of 5. Access to healthcare for women has relatively
improved; but is still severely restricted in rural areas. 79%
of the populations do not have access to safe drinking water.
Afghanistan is among one the six remaining countries in the
world, where polio, like landmines, still kill and maim many
beautiful children, everyday. Other preventable and curable
diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and measles continue
to kill hundreds of adults.
The US Department of Health and Human Services,
USAID, WHO, UNICEF, and a number of foreign and Afghan NGOs
have helped improve access to health care. They provided funding
for immunization campaigns. USAID is working with our Ministry
of Health to improve capacity to extend services to remote areas.
They have rebuilt hospitals and clinics in Kabul and key provinces,
and provided them with some medical supplies and trained staff.
But, today even in Kabul hospitals you still see 2 or 3 kids
sharing one bed. Patients are bringing in their own medication
and syringes. Those who cannot afford buying medication, are
dying in the hospitals. Many clinics and hospitals do not have
trained doctors and medical equipment for basic surgeries. Mental
health care for a traumatized nation is almost non-existent.
Patients with simple, curable and preventable medical problems
die everyday.
The U.S.-Afghan Women's Council is strongly advocating
for women mental health care projects. They are supportive of
midwifery training, and maternal health education programs.
Basic health care education and disease prevention
are our major priorities. We are grateful to Leapfrog Enterprises,
Inc. for creating a unique health education program. It will
serve as a very effective tool to educate Afghans, particularly
women, about family health promotion and disease prevention.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Afghanistan is on the right path of transition
to democracy and reconstruction. I renew President Karzai’s
appeal to the international community to help rebuild our health
and education institutions.
The Afghan people are looking forward to their first free presidential
election in October of this year. So far, 93% of the eligible
voters are registered, 41% are women. A recent survey by the
Asia Foundation found that 81 percent of Afghans are intended
to vote. A major reason for Afghans' determination to vote is
the rebirth of hope and optimism about their future and their
country, and their trust to partnership with the US and the
international community. Two out of three Afghans think Afghanistan
is headed in the right direction. They give President Hamid
Karzai a 62 percent job approval rating. 85 percent of the populations,
across all regional and ethnic lines, favor him over any other
leader in the country. Afghans have placed great faith in democracy.
77 percent say the election of a president and parliament will
make a difference in their lives. A solid consensus of more
than 80 percent supports equal rights under law, regardless
of religion, ethnicity or gender.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Afghans are determined to rebuild their country.
They have put their trust and hope on friendship and partnership
with you. They are grateful for your assistance. They want to
stand on their own feet as fast as possible. They will not be
able to do it without your support.
Thank you.
