Jumhuriat Hospital Inaugurated

His Excellency President Hamed Karzai, Dr. SMA Fatimie and His Excellency Ambassador Zheng Qingdian, in presence of Parliament Speakers and tens of High Ranking Afghan Officials inaugurate Jumhuriat Hospital

Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Afghanistan

August 16, 2009

His Excellency Hamed Karzai, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. S.M. Amin Fatimie, the Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan and His Excellency Mr. Zheng Qingdian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The People's Republic of China in Kabul officially inaugurated the 350 bed Jumhuriat Hospital in Kabul. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Hazrat Sebghatullah Mujadidi,

Chairperson of Mishranu Jerga, His Excellency Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, Chairperson of Wulusi Jerga, Ambassadors of friendly governments in Kabul, cabinet ministers, high ranking civil and military officials, representatives of United Nations Agencies, donors and Non Governmental Organizations, doctors, specialists and health personnel of the Public Health, Defense, Internal Affairs ministries, Security Department and Afghan Red Crescent Society. The new building for the Jumhuriat Hospital cost $22,500,000 provided by the People's Republic of China. In addition equipment which includes 248 items sufficient for running a hospital for provision of Tertiary Health Care also provided by the People's Republic of China. Provision of medical equipment to the Jumhuriat Hospital with a value of $2,5 million is another important step in the strengthening of health system in Afghanistan. The equipment meets the standards and conditions of the People's Republic of China and the national organization responsible for evaluating the quality standard in China. Quality, characteristics and quantity of abovementioned equipment are in accordance with the evaluation indicators of the National Department for the Quarantine and Control of China. By equipping and activating the Junhuriat Hospital not only the residents of Kabul are benefiting from quality Secondary and Tertiary Health Care but also patients referred from the provinces with complicated health problems will benefit.

With this huge support to the health system of Afghanistan, the People's Republic of China has played a very crucial rule in the enhancement of service delivery in the areas of secondary and tertiary health care said Dr. S.M. Amin Fatimie, the Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. We are thankful to the government and the people of the People's Republic of China and would like the continuation of such assistances from them in the future. MoPH is requesting the People's Republic of China, other friendly countries, UN agencies and donors to help us in maintaining good management, sustainability, and enhancement of quality health care in Jumhuriate Hospital he added.

The construction work of the hospital started in October of 2006. The hospital has a 350 bed capacity and will provide jobs for 1000 personnel to serve Afghans in provision of secondary and tertiary health care and to train young doctors for other hospitals and the provinces. The hospital will have the following medical services: general Medicine, Cardiology, Respiratory diseases, Gastrology, Immunology, Hematology, Nephrology, Endoscopic services, General Surgery, Chest Surgery, Urology, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic and Burn Treatment services.

The total cost of the new building of Jumhuriat Hospital and its equipment is $25 million, provided by the Government of the People's Republic of China in accordance to an agreement signed by the Governments of China and Afghanistan on 27 May 2003. The agreement was about Technical and Economical Cooperation between both governments.