‘Zayed Charity’ supports Afghanistan’s health sector with 14.7 million dirhams
The Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) signed a grant of 14.7 million UAE dirhams (US$4 million) with the aim of contributing to cover the operational and administrative expenses of Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Kabul and Sheikh Zayed Teaching Hospital in Khost, Afghanistan, in addition to contributing to the support of the health sector in Afghanistan, as part of an effective partnership between the two parties to contribute to the support of the medical sector system in Afghanistan.
The memorandum was signed by HE Hamad Salem bin Kurdous Al Amri, Director General of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, and Claire Dalton, Head of Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the UAE.
The memorandum is the fruit of co-operation and co-ordination between the two sides in many areas of humanitarian work to strengthen this partnership to build bridges of practical communication and improve the level of services provided in terms of support to achieve the desired results.
The areas of cooperation in the health field are focused on the provision of medicines and treatment supplies, the coverage of salaries of employees, the salaries of doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and daily operating expenses such as electricity, water, fuel and other expenses.
HE Sheikh Hamad Salem bin Kardous Al Amri said that the UAE has always sought to strengthen bilateral relations with all specialized international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in many areas that serve the humanitarian sectors in various countries of the world, especially with regard to providing the needs in the medical sector, as it is of direct importance in the interest of alleviating the burden on many societies that do not have these services.
His Excellency added that the signing of the agreement today comes within the framework of the continuous effort and tireless work by the two parties to ensure the continuity of the provision of decent medical care and the sustainability of primary health care for a large segment of the population in Afghanistan by contributing to the International Committee of the Red Cross to cover the operational and administrative expenses of Sheikh Zayed hospitals in Afghanistan, which serves a large segment of the population, especially the elderly, women and children.
HE Al Amri expressed his hope that this cooperation between the Zayed Foundation and the International Committee of the Red Cross will work together to serve common humanitarian goals in Afghanistan and contribute to alleviating the challenges facing the Afghan people, especially in the sectors that affect the provision of basic needs, foremost among which is the medical sector.
ICRC President Peter Maurer expressed his gratitude to the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for their support in promoting the ICRC Health Resilience Project in Afghanistan, including Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Kabul and the Teaching Hospital in Khost, where the ICRC’s priorities lie in supporting the health system in Afghanistan, which through this agreement and partnership leads to intensified training and support for payroll disbursement, as well as for enhancing the access of Afghan families to life-saving health services.
