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Dr. M. Kenneth Mudge,
Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at ARMC,
was one of four physicians who traveled to Kabul,
Afghanistan last April. "I never thought I would be
working in that part of the world. In Africa, yes. But
I would definitely go to Afghanistan again. The
Afghans were very appreciative of the help we could
give them. They are eager to improve their quality of
life after so many years of war."
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It was the third trip
for Dr. Bob Soderblom, associate professor of
medicine, and former chief of nephrology at Loma Linda
University Medical Center.
He said that he fell in
love with the Afghan people on his first trip. Now he
is charge of recruiting and hopes to send at least two
teams every year.
"It is a most rewarding
humanitarian effort and I am blessed to have a small
part in it."
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Another first-timer was
Dr. Richard Catalano, Loma Linda general surgeon and
chief of trauma services. He was accompanied by his
wife, Patti, an operating room nurse who specializes
in open heart surgery. A wonderful surprise for the
Catalanos was that they were able to contact their
son, who is stationed on the eastern border with the
10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army. Encouraged by
others, they decided to see if they could work through
the chain of command and
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their son was able to
catch a Blackhawk Helicopter to a nearby base. After
getting a ride to the base and going through tight
security, his parents were able to spend several hours
with him. The fourth physician in the group was Dr.
Tae Eung Kim, assistant professor of emergency
medicine at Loma Linda. He was returning for his
fourth time and says he is always happy to see how
things have improved when he has a chance to go back.
His Fellowship in International Emergency Medicine at
Loma Linda, has given him the opportunity to go
overseas several times, to do clinical work, to
lecture or to attend conferences.
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About 90 Afghan doctors
attended the lectures that were given every day by
each of the visiting physicians. They listened
attentively, took copious notes, studied and then
wrote an examination at the end of the two weeks,
which qualified them to receive a certificate from
Loma Linda University Medical School. They were all
eager to learn and very excited when they were handed
their certificates with their names in bold type, and
confirming that they had successfully passed the
course. (The physicians also lectured in the Nursing
School.)
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"It was particularly
gratifying to see the Afghan women in the classes,
since they have had very little opportunity in the
past to receive a higher education. All of the courses
were given in English. They studied diligently, even
though their English was not as polished as some of
the men, " Mudge said.
The wars in
Afghanistan have left the hospitals with very little
usable equipment.
Loma Linda has sent quite a bit of good, reusable
equipment which
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had not all been put into use.
"One of my jobs, said Mudge, " was to organize the
orthopaedic equipment to make it easier for the
surgeons to use. Patti Catalano helped me make a list
of basic orthopaedic instruments that they still need
at the hospital. Wayne Smith, an anesthesiologist from
Tennessee is serving a two year term in Kabul with the
Adventist Health System. He is going to go to India
soon to locate this eqipment and purchase it with the
help of USAID."
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¡@
The Afghanistan Ministry
of Public Health and USAID, have invited the Adventist
Health System to come and help them get Wazir Akbar
Khan Hospital in good running order again after so
much devastation by the wars. According to Rolinda
Luevano in the Global Outreach office in Loma Linda,
the hospital is getting good reviews and the
government is pleased with the way it is being
upgraded.
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