The Hindu : New Delhi News : From Afghanistan with a glimmer of hope

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

From Afghanistan with a glimmer of hope

By Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 20. The head of the Community Out Reach Programme of Escorts Heart Institute, R.R. Kasliwal, appears to have left behind a bit of his heart in Afghanistan. Part of an all-Indian team that held a three-day camp at the Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital in Kabul, the senior cardiologist is hoping that the mission would provided a glimmer of hope and some consolation to the people of the war-ravaged country.

"The first thing that struck me about the people in this war-torn area was their desire to live normally. The place has gone from being among the most beautiful cities in the world to a ghost town, but the zeal of the people makes up for devastation. One of the most striking glimpses that I saw was that of a medical college almost completely torn down and still being used by students diligently at work. It was a very reassuring sight, in a country that has seen such hard times," said Dr. Kasliwal.

And while as a follow-up of the camp, the hospital is planning to set up a centre and chemist store in the area. According to the doctor, the children are the epitome of courage and hope in the area. "In a region which has had no counselling on how to deal with war, children seem to have blocked out the period of turmoil and it is very touching to see their eyes glitter, clearly hoping for better days ahead," explains Dr. Kasliwal.

Speaking about the medical scenario in Afghanistan, he said: "I started preparing treatment plans and consultations from the airport itself. And with people in need for medical care even coming to the hotel, there was absolutely no rest for three days. I worked from the minute I stepped off the plane to the minute I got back into it."

But the doctor did not feel tired. Stating that he felt that his effort had made a "difference", Dr. Kasliwal said some of the patients were under the impression that he had been posted in Kabul permanently. "I need to go back, because the work satisfaction level is very high. I know that if I am not in Delhi, somebody else will take my place. But, in Afghanistan this is not the case."

Talking about the poor infrastructure and the common man's urgent need for help, the doctor added: "People crowded around me and jostled with each other to get themselves heard. More than a cure they are looking for a sympathetic ear. They have horror stories to share and once there I knew I was helping people who are working in the middle of virtually zero medical infrastructure. Another problem there was that I had to constantly keep reminding myself that even if I write out a prescription there is no way that people can get those medicines or even have something as basic as a blood test. The situation there is so bad that women who have to deliver are driven to Peshawar and the common phrase there is, `if death has to come it will'."

Back in Delhi, Dr. Kasliwal now finds India like "heaven". "There are these regions in the country which are still not safe. But there is really no comparison with the situation in Afghanistan where the place goes dead at 5-30 p.m. The silver lining, however, is the fact that people there see Indians, Japanese and Germans as friends and it is now up to us to live up to the expectation."

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