Sunday October 21 2012
Kabul (BNA) The foundation stone of the maternity ward of the France Medical Institute for Children in Afghanistan was laid in presence of Mohammad Karim Khalili Second Vice-President, Prince Karim Agha Khan Leader of World Ismealia and Loran Fabious Minister of Foreign Affairs of France.
At the ceremony held in Aliabad area of Kabul, Khalili welcomed Prince Karim Agha Khan and French Foreign Minister and said that in addition to ensuring of social and economic justice, ensuring of equal access to all residents of the country including women, men and children to health services is one of the basic priorities of the government of Afghanistan.
He added that expansion and construction of modern health centers can further ensure access of women to standard health care and creation of the maternity ward of the Medical Institute of France for children in Afghanistan is a big step towards standardizing of health services and ensuring health justice in the country.
He called this project a big step towards ensuring the health of women and children and representing the government of Afghanistan thanked France for its cooperation as well as the Agha Khan network in this respect.
He expressed the hope that with this project in addition to facilitating health care to children and women, this will reduce referring of some of the patients to foreign countries health establishments.
Prince Karim Agha Khan talked on the cooperation of France’s Medical Institute with the Agha Khan Foundation and said that the maternity ward of the French Medical Institute for children is constructed with the support of government of Afghanistan and France, the Agha Khan and other organizations.
The financial allocation for this project is over USD17 million which will be provided by France and Agha Khan Network.
The minister of Foreign Affairs of France said at the ceremony that with the assistance of the technical team at this center efforts will be made health services are provided on modern and standardized manners.
He reiterated on quality health services at this center and called cooperation of the Afghan cadres as very important.
He assured on French continued cooperation and added that with the change in essence of international community to Afghanistan after 2014 France will continue to stay on the side of the people of Afghanistan.
