Left - Afghan Public Health Minister meeting His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei

Between 29th of July and 4th of August 2004, at the invitation of the Government of Brunei Darussalam, a senior Afghan delegation headed by the Public Health Minister of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, Her Excellency Dr Sohaila Seddiq, paid an official visit to Brunei Darussalam.

During the visit, the Afghan delegation held talks with Brunei Minister of Health, the Honourable Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, and exchanged views on public health issues.

Right-During meeting with Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister

The Afghan delegation also called on His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna and the Minister of Development, Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Jumat. In addition, the delegation attended a number of official receptions and visited some medical and cultural institutions. Also, Brunei Education Minister hosted a dinner reception in honour of the delegation.

During the official talks, Brunei expressed interest in assisting Afghanistan in the health sector.

From left: Afghan Ambassador, Brunei Health Minister and Afghan Health Minister

Having a keen appreciation of the reconstruction needs of Afghanistan, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam kindly consented to a generous offer of support towards the establishment of a medical complex in Kapisa province of Afghanistan. The project aims to build a modern medical complex in the Kapisa Province where the need for medical services and training is acutely needed by the populace.

In addition to the generous support to the Kapisa Medical Complex, the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam and the Public Health Ministry of Afghanistan agreed on the development of a small exchange program, under which Afghan medical officials would initially undertake a study of Brunei health system.

From left: Kapisa Governor Dr Haqbeen, Afghan health advisor Mr. Arif Parwani, Afghan Health Minister, Brunei Education Minister and Brunei Health Minister

The delegation presented an appreciative letter of tribute to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam from His Excellency Hamid Karzai President of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.

The Afghan Health Minister was accompanied by Afghan Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Kapisa Governor and a Senior Advisor from the Afghan Ministry of Public Health.