(PORTLAND, ORE. - June 1, 2007) Amid rising volatility in the region, two physicians with Medical Teams International arrive in Kabul, Afghanistan, today to treat Afghan children suffering from landmine blasts and other traumatic injuries. The New York City twin surgeons-a cardiologist and an urologist-are making their second trip to the country in 17 months.
Drs. Vince and Vance Moss will spend four weeks in Kabul, performing reconstructive surgeries at the Tanghi Saidan Community Health Clinic and training healthcare providers in updated surgical procedures.
The doctors have been instrumental in setting up a rehabilitation unit at the Kabul medical clinic. The Moss brothers raised more than $10,000 in donated medical supplies-including splints, bandages, crutches and collapsible wheelchairs-which they will deliver this weekend. Medical supplies, equipment and medicines are nonexistent in the region and patients often lose limbs and mobility because of the critical shortages.
"As Afghanistan continues to rebuild and recover, the work of the Moss brothers will bring much hope and help, especially for children suffering from landmine blasts and others who have not had access to surgical care," says Brian Heidel, director of international development programs for Medical Teams International. "Their work will also help the local medical professionals to improve the quality of care they provide to their people."
Medical Teams International is partnering with Morning Star Development for this mission, a relief agency based in Kabul whose goal is to rebuild Afghanistan and its families through community development.
Medical Teams International has been working in war-torn Afghanistan since November 2001. The country has endured a Soviet takeover, an ongoing civil war, repeated attacks by the Taliban and years of drought-all during the past 30 years. The civil strife has created a fragmented health care system with few trained professionals. Medical Teams International is working to meet the needs of the Afghan people through shipments of medical supplies and volunteer medical teams. The agency plans to send nine teams to Afghanistan during 2008.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
