A recently returned Afghan doctor from Turkey reportedly treated more than 400 children with cleft lip and cleft palate in Afghanistan for free, saying that he only treats those who cannot afford treatment.
“When I came to Kabul, I conducted a lot of surgeries in Kabul, then Kunduz, and then I moved to Ghazni, Kandahar, and Helmand, where I performed a total of 450 operations for free, and I did not charge the patients and families,” said Abdul Ghafar Ghayor, a cosmetic surgery specialist.
Meanwhile, some of the patients’ families said that they could not afford to send their children abroad for treatment.
“Because of their extreme poverty, Afghans are unable to travel or receive medical care elsewhere. We are pleased that our patients are treated here,” said Matiullah, a relative of a patient.
“We can’t afford to have this operation, but it was performed inside the nation for free, which makes us pleased,” said Munsif, a patient’s relative.
The Ministry of Public Health praised the doctor’s efforts and urged doctors from other nations to participate in the free care provided to the poor.
“Doctors who live abroad should come and treat patients in other departments such as cardiac surgery, they should treat heart patients whose treatment requires a lot of money,” said Said Rasoul Mangal, an official of the Ministry of Public Health.
This Afghan doctor said that he will begin treating 500 more sick children.
