Secretary Thompson Helps Open Women's Hospital in Kabul

After Secretary Thompson's trip to Afghanistan in October, HHS worked with the Department of Defense to refurbish and provide training for staff at the hospital, which -- after years of civil war and neglect -- was in terrible condition, with no working plumbing, broken windows and equipment, and few drugs and supplies.

By refurbishing the hospital and training medical staff, the United States is committed to working with Afghanistan to reduce high infant and maternal mortality rates. Currently, 40 percent of deaths among women of childbearing age in Afghanistan are caused by preventable complications related to childbirth. Additionally, an estimated one in four children dies before reaching their fifth birthday.

"Six months ago, we made a promise to the people of Afghanistan to help rebuild their nation's public health infrastructure," Secretary Thompson said. "Today is a new day in Afghanistan, where we now have a new hospital for women to receive topnotch health care and a new training program that will provide the best of medical instruction to Afghanistan's health care providers."

HHS has been active in Afghanistan since November 2001 conducting health care assessments and assisting in immunization campaigns. The first phase of this new activity is the refurbishment of the Rabia Balkhi Women's Hospital. Additionally, President Bush's fiscal year 2004 budget includes $5 million to complete work on the hospital. Nearly $3 million of the fiscal year 2004 funding will go to purchasing equipment, drugs, supplies and teaching materials; improving laboratory capabilities; paying staff and training Afghan health care workers. The remaining $2 million will be used to staff and equip four satellite clinics throughout Afghanistan.

HHS will turn its attention to the establishment of satellite teaching clinics in Afghanistan once the initial needs of Rabia Balkhi have been met. Each maternal and child health clinic would provide direct healthcare to patients as well as training to health care workers at all levels, including physicians, nurses, midwives, community health workers and others.

The Ministry of Health in Afghanistan has requested that these additional clinics be placed in four cities -- Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Mazar-e-Sharif -- and, if necessary, HHS will work with DoD to renovate existing facilities to serve as the teaching clinics. With each clinic, the overall goal is to develop a team of trained health care workers who can address the maternal and child healthcare needs of the nation.

The following is a snapshot of health indicators for Afghanistan.

• Infant mortality rate (2000)--165/1,000
• Number of women who die annually from pregnancy related complications: 17,000. Worldwide rank of Afghanistan in maternal mortality: 2
• Percent of children born who will not see their 5th birthday: 25 percent
• Percent of children immunized against common diseases: 32 percent
• There are not enough health facilities -- 50 of 330 districts do not have a basic health center or immunization services.
• In 1997, the World Health Organization estimated that there were only 11 doctors and 18 nurses per 100,000 Afghans.