President Karzai Returns to Kabul after
His Historic Visit to the Province of Badghis
Office of the Spokesman to the President
04/22/2006
Arg, Kabul - H.E. Hamid Karzai, President
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, returned to Kabul this
evening after his historic visit to the province Badghis. President
Karzai is the first leader of Afghanistan to visit the province
of Badghis.
During this visit, the President laid the foundation
stone of a new regional hospital, inaugurated a 400KW Diesel
Generator and a bridge in Qala-e-Naw and met with the people
of Badghis.
The new regional hospital will be built and equipped
with 2.5 million Euros in funding from the Government of Spain.
This facility’s diagnostic and treatment technologies
will be state-of-the-art, including CT scanning, general radiology,
ultrasound and a well-stocked pharmacy. It will also have major
and minor surgery facilities and obstetrical and gynecology
care.
The 400KW Diesel Generator was provided and constructed
by the Spanish PRT in Qala-e-Naw. This new power generation
facility provides 200 households with electricity in Qala-e-Naw.
While addressing a gathering of medical staff
and health workers in Qala-e-Naw the President said, “The
Government will work hard in the coming years to provide accessible
and cost-effective quality medical care to all Afghans in every
corner of the country."
“Those who kill our medical staff are the
enemies of Afghanistan. Afghans never kill doctors; it is the
foreign mercenaries who kill our doctors. It’s the duty
of the people of Afghanistan to safeguard health centers and
medical staff.”
The President also visited the girls’ High
School in Qala-e-Naw, met with teachers and students and discussed
the situation of education in Badghis. The students asked the
President to assist them with scholarships, teaching materials,
computers and electricity.
While speaking to the students the President said,
“I have instructed the Minister of Higher Education to
provide scholarships to the students of remote provinces.”
The people of Badghis asked the President to assist
them in the reconstruction of Herat-Badghis road and provide
Badghis with safe water.
The President assured them that the Government
is working with the US Government on the reconstruction of the
Herat-Kabul road.
The President added “The Minister of Energy
will be going to Turkmenistan tomorrow to discuss the transfer
of electricity from Turkmenistan to Badghis.”
After visiting the Spanish PRT, the President,
on behalf o the people of Afghanistan, thanked the people and
Government of Spain for their commitment to the reconstruction
and security of Afghanistan.
The Spanish Ambassador reiterated his Government’s
commitment to assist the people of Afghanistan with reconstruction
and security.
For further information, please contact:
Khaleeq Ahmad, Deputy Spokesman on International
Affairs
Tel.: 00 93 70 286 853
