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Embassy of the Islamic Republic of

Tokyo

Press Release

Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie Rejects the Malicious Accusation of the Current Leadership of the Afghan Ministry of Public Health Dr. Suraya Dalil, Acting Minister of Public Health, has claimed that in November of 2009, a decision by Ambassador Fatimie, then Minister of Public Health, to close public schools for three weeks was a political decision and not to prevent the spread of Swine Flu as he had announced

July 25, 2011, TOKYO, JAPAN: In November 2009, a decision was made to close public schools in Afghanistan for a period of three weeks in order to prevent further spread of the A-H1N1 influenza commonly known as swine flu. Acting Minister of Public Heath Dr. Suraya Dalil has reportedly accused this move, and the actions at that time of then Minister of Public Health and current Afghan Ambassador to Japan Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie of being politically motivated instead of concerned with health Issues.

Dr. Fatimie denies this baseless and slanderous claim, stating that the evidence and process was transparent and justified.

In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the A-H1N1 influenza had spread to 160 countries worldwide, declaring it a serious pandemic concern and asking all nations to be aware of its effects.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) at that time discovered at least 306 cases of people nationwide affected with the A-H1N1 influenza. Based on this finding, Dr. Fatimie raised the seriousness of the issue in a cabinet meeting led by H.E. President , which resulted in the creation of a committee on the issue lead by H.E. Second Vice President Karim Khalili. Committee members included the Minister of Education; the Minister of Higher Education; the Minister of Public Health,

Telephone: +81· 355747611 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.afghanembassyjp.org/ 6~1iA1 ",,~I c.S~ c.S1...>P~uLL..a u.)LL..ac.S."l ~~ ~I .l 6~1iA1 .l ';;s-fJ ';;s-fJ

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mghanistan

Tokyo Dr. Fatimie; and representatives of other related organizations. Following the committee's review of scientific evidence, a decision was made based in line with the laws related to Public Health to close public schools for three weeks. Additionally, the public was also called on to refrain from gathering in public places, such as at wedding halls and other crowded spaces that would allow for the virus to spread easily.

Based on the proper proceedings that were observed and the committee action that was based on the decision of a number of key figures who examined scientific facts, Dr. Fatimie firmly denies the baseless and slanderous accusations of Acting Minister Dalil, and is kindly requesting H.E. President Hamid Karzai to order an investigation into the irregularity of this claim.

Conversely, Dr. Fatimie asserts that the efforts of Dr. Dalil to conceal evidence of improved health indicators in Afghanistan as a political move.

Dr. Dalil and associates have refused to make public the Afghanistan Mortality Survey 2010 (AMS) report implemented by the Afghan Public Health Institute of 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 live births in 2001 to 327 per every 100,000 live births in 2010, making Afghanistan's one of the lowest regionally; the child mortality rate, which decreased from 165 per 1,000 live births in 2001 to 66 per 1,000 live births in 2010; and the under-five mortality rate, which decreased from 257 per 1,000 live births in 2001 to 84 per 1,000 in 2010.

Telephone: +81- 3 557476 11 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.afghanembassyjp.org! 6u....utij\ ~~\ (,5~ (,5\.JP ~,",I.i.u. ~,",I.i.u. (,5,Jl~~ ~~\ J 6u....utij\ J .J:JS~ .J:JS~

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Tokyo Dr. Fatimie emphasizes that all these achievements belong to and are the result of the tireless efforts of the people of Afghanistan, H.E. President Karzai, all sectors of the Afghan Government as well as the International Donor Community. Furthermore, Dr. Fatimie points out that the 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.

Dr. Fatimie calls upon Acting Minister Dalil to end the political games and to release the report.

For further information, please contact:

Jason Pratt Public Relations Officer Embassy of Afghanistan in Tokyo +81-3-5574-7611/ [email protected]

Telephone: +81- 3 557476 11 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.afghanembassyjp.org!