Transcripts
Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland
USAID/Ministry of Health Signing Ceremony
April 16, 2009
Ministry of Health, Astana, Kazakhstan
Minister Doskaliev, colleagues, good morning to you.
Mr. Minister, thank you especially for the historical perspective which you have given on the 16 years of our partnership. It’s a pleasure to participate in today’s signing ceremony. This Memorandum of Understanding between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health and the U.S. Agency for International Development will serve as a foundation for future cooperation between our two governments and our two peoples.
One of the marks of a strong, successful country is that it takes care of its people. Kazakhstan has taken real steps to improve its healthcare system in recent years, and I’m very pleased that the United States has been a strong partner with Kazakhstan in this effort. Our partnership has been especially important to enhance the quality of maternal and child health services and to reduce mortality from tuberculosis. Today’s memorandum will provide a firm basis for future cooperation.
USAID’s renewal of its fruitful partnership with the Ministry of Health is just another example of the vibrant and growing strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States. I commend both my USAID colleagues and our Kazakhstani partners for the successes they have achieved together, and I look forward to the United States and Kazakhstan combining their energy and expertise to further improve the health and well being of the people of Kazakhstan.
