July 22, 2011: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie announced to the Afghan media updated statistics from the Afghan health sector, showing major improvements made.
Ambassador Fatimie sited the Afghanistan Mortality Survey 2010 (AMS) report that was implemented by the Ministry of Public Health with the technical support of key groups including ICF Macro-USA, the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Central Statistics Organization (CSO) of Afghanistan. The 2010 report, which was recently finished after a thorough verification process by international experts from key institutions, shows great improvements in a number of areas, including life expectancy increasing by nearly 20 years on average. Other areas that have shown great improvements are the maternal mortality ratio, which decreased from 1,600 per every 100,000 births in 2001 to 327 per every 100,000 births in 2010, making Afghanistan’s one of the lowest regionally; the child mortality rate, which decreased from 165 per 1,000 births in 2001 to 66 per 1,000 births in 2010; and the under-five mortality rate, which decreased from 257 per 1,000 births in 2001 to 84 per 1,000 in 2010.
Ambassador Fatimie pointed out that these findings show that the International Community’s investments in the Afghan health sector, particularly the financial support of USAID, the European Commission, the World Bank, Japan, and other donor bodies, have been effective, worthwhile, and well-made. Furthermore, he praised the efforts of the people, Afghan and international, who made these inspiring gains.
To see the press release in Pashto, click here.
To see the press release in Dari, click here for page 1 and here for page 2.
To see the press release in English, click here.
