Faisal Mohamed Al-Emadi, CEO of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), met today morning Reto Stocker, Special Adviser Afghanistan at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Cherine Pollini, head of the ICRC mission in Doha.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, Director of Relief and International Development Division, Subhi Fahid Al-Ejjeh, Head of Relief and Disaster Management, and Aiham Ismail Al-Sukhni, Head of Planning and Studies.
They discussed the humanitarian developments in Afghanistan and ways to provide support to the failing health sector, after decades of conflict and natural disasters.
Discussions included the major challenges facing the health sector in Afghanistan, such as the lack of salaries, medical drugs, running costs, and medical professionals.
It was an opportunity to exchange field information and expand the scope of work to maximize results, first by helping to stabilize the situation at hospitals, with financial, logistical, and administrative support to meet the growing needs.
Close cooperation with Afghan government authorities is needed to ensure the continuity of training for medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, community midwives, and psychosocial support specialists. The cultural sensitivities must be taken into consideration, paying attention to qualifying female medical professionals.
Mr. Stocker hailed the humanitarian role of Qatar over the past few years in meeting the needs of the Afghan people. He highlighted a number of health difficulties there, mainly (1) absence of technical resources in oncology, cardiology, and other secondary health care specialties; (2) a long waiting list of 12,000 children with congenital heart defects; and (3) inability to travel for treatment abroad. These require solutions to enable the health sector to provide advanced surgical services locally.
Mr. Al-Emadi emphasized the multiple forms of assistance provided during the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, including 10 air shipments of food and medical aid. He stressed QRCS's keenness to continue to support Afghanistan's health sector, inspired by the support of the State of Qatar to the brotherly Afghan people.
He welcomed partnership agreements with ICRC to launch joint humanitarian projects in Afghanistan, capitalizing on ICRC's expertise and legal/administrative consultations.