Ottawa – Afghan Ambassador Omar Samad participated at a ceremony Thursday held at the Distribution Center of Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) in Mississauga, Ontario, where it was announced that more than $1.5 million worth of medicines and medical supplies will soon be shipped to Afghanistan.

Amb. Samad thanked the donors and financial supporters of this shipment and said “your generosity will touch the lives of thousands of Afghans who are, in most cases, deprived of quality medical supplies including medicines.”

He also expressed his appreciation to 13 Canadian health-care companies and the Bridgeway Foundation for donating the medicines and providing the financial support to deliver the shipment to CURE International Hospital in Kabul.

This shipment includes anti-infectives, vitamins, diabetes treatments and anti-virals.

At a press conference attended by industry representatives and Afghan-Canadian community leaders, John Kelsall, President of HPIC talked about the significance of this program for Afghans, while Mrs. Carol Peterson, representing the Bridgeway Foundation, explained the humanitarian motivation for participation in the Afghan medical project.

The Embassy has been working with HPIC, a non-governmental organization, since 2004 to provide health-care assistance to Afghanistan. In 2004, HPIC shipped more than $2 million worth of medicines to the country, and in February, once again, HPIC announced a multi-million dollar diversified program to help the public health sector in Afghanistan.

Embassy of Afghanistan

May 10, 2007