Kabul has just come under Taliban rule. Amidst turbulence and uncertainty, two clinics provide medical care to the vulnerable and poor in Kabul.
For several years, donors to the Danish European Mission have supported these clinics in Kabul, which treat the poorest of the poor. The clinics offer a wide range of treatments, from assistance with childbirth and the treatment of visual impairment, to surgery and diagnostics and hygiene courses.
One of the vulnerable who has been helped is three-year-old Zubair. His mother, Shapery, tells his story here:
- My name is Shapery, daughter of Sardar, living in Kabul. I am a mother of four children and my husband is an electrician. All my children are healthy, but last winter my son, Zubair, suddenly developed chest problems.
- We went to many doctors and hospitals, but his illness got worse and worse. We were especially worried about his high fever and his difficulty breathing. Many people told me that Zubair might have contracted COVID-19. We also went to a COVID-19 testing center, but the test was negative. We also quarantined him with me. However, within a few days he became very weak and his skin and lips turned greenish.
Clinics for the poor
- Then I heard from neighboring women that there is a good charity clinic in our local area for the poor. This was a very relevant piece of information because we are also poor and cannot afford more private treatments.
- I saw that my son was very sick with fever, had breathing problems and some cramps. That day we quickly went to the clinic. I showed his negative COVID-19 test and a doctor at the clinic carefully examined my son. He then sent him to bed and gave him an inhaler, oxygen and intravenous treatment. In the afternoon, I could see that my son recovered and got well.
- Now he is perfectly fine and comes to the clinic for check-ups. I believe that this clinic has a special gift to bring healing because so many people receive treatment. I pray for all the employees of the clinic as well as those who financially support its work," Shapery concludes.
Work continues despite turbulence
You can lend a helping hand to the poor and vulnerable in Kabul so they can receive medical care. It costs an average of $540 to provide medicine and medical care to 15 people. More than 40,000 people received treatment at the clinic in 2020, including infections, eye diseases, malaria, high blood pressure and skin diseases.
Those in need can receive dental treatment and pregnant women can get ultrasound scans. In addition, patients and their families receive education on disease prevention, hygiene, vaccines and healthy eating.
Thank you so much for providing medical care to the poor and vulnerable in Kabul at a time like this.
