Surgeons Join Forces to Transform Afghan Health Care in Historic Mission

A team of health-care professionals from Surrey Memorial Hospital undertook a transformative mission to Afghanistan in October 2024, aimed at enhancing medical practices in the country’s capital. Led by Dr. Ahmad Ashrafi, a thoracic surgeon, the team included anesthesiologist Dr. Jean Gelinas, critical care nurses Tayne Bong and Sajia Yousofi, nurse practitioner Dorothy Suliga, and intensivist Dr. Angela Babuk. Their mission focused on educating local health-care workers at the Ali Abad Teaching Hospital in Kabul.

The team’s journey began with a reconnaissance trip in March 2024, where Ashrafi noted the eagerness of local medical staff to learn from their Canadian counterparts. “Afghanistan is considered a very difficult place to go to because it’s been in war for over four decades,” Ashrafi stated, highlighting the long-lasting impacts on essential services, particularly health care. His interest in global health, stemming from his own background as an Afghan immigrant, motivated him to embark on this mission.

A Focus on Sustainable Medical Practices

In preparation for the October mission, Ashrafi worked diligently to assemble a team willing to share their expertise. The group departed Canada on October 18, 2024, and spent approximately two weeks in Afghanistan conducting surgeries and instructing local medical staff. They also organized a symposium focusing on gastrointestinal malignancies, which featured lectures and hands-on training.

The team was divided into surgical and critical care groups. Ashrafi, Suliga, and Gelinas concentrated on surgical procedures, while Bong, Yousofi, and Babuk focused on critical care education. The collaboration offered a unique opportunity for knowledge transfer, addressing the outdated medical practices prevalent in Afghanistan.

Ashrafi emphasized the critical role of Gelinas during their operations: “Without him, my job would not have been possible,” he remarked, noting that anesthesia was a vital component for successful surgeries. Gelinas echoed the importance of their work, stating, “There’s such an emphasis on the transmission of knowledge,” which was essential given the challenges faced by local anesthesiologists.

Human Connections and Cultural Exchange

The local health-care workers were receptive and eager to learn, demonstrating remarkable hospitality throughout the mission. Suliga commented on the warmth of their Afghan hosts, noting that cultural barriers were minimal. “It was like in this really embracing one another’s cultures,” she said, reflecting on the mutual respect shared between the teams.

Yousofi, who was born in Afghanistan but left at a young age, found a personal connection to the mission. “Being back in the country where my roots lie… was both grounding and heartbreaking,” she shared. Her focus was to empower local nurses, providing training in critical care techniques. The team quickly adapted their teaching methods, discovering that even basic skills like chest compressions were unfamiliar to some nurses with years of experience.

Likewise, Bong observed significant disparities in knowledge between male and female health-care workers, attributing this to unequal educational opportunities. Her experience highlighted the need for tailored training to ensure all staff, regardless of gender, received the necessary skills to provide effective care.

Babuk, whose father is Afghan, was inspired by the eagerness of local health-care workers to implement changes based on the Canadians’ recommendations. She has continued to engage with them post-mission via video calls to finalize a comprehensive critical care program plan that the Afghan team is beginning to implement.

As the mission concluded, Ashrafi expressed hope for future collaborations, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of Afghanistan’s political landscape. “It will be a wait and see situation,” he noted, understanding that the future of such initiatives depends on the evolving circumstances within the country.

The efforts of Ashrafi and his team not only aimed to improve medical practices but also sought to foster lasting relationships that could lead to continued progress in Afghan health care. Their dedication to education and sustainable practices serves as a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing global health challenges.