Afghanistan’s healer: The Red Cross Center
Disability often carries a heavy stigma. Afghanistan is no different when it comes to that. Throughout the years, multiple civil wars in the country have affected so many people mentally and physically. A lot of civilians get injured in these wars often leaving them without limbs and life-long suffrage.
Many organizations have come forward to help the people who get affected in these wars. One such organization is the Red Cross center. Located in the war-torn city of Kabul, Red Cross center is providing not only limbs but a hefty amount of hope to the people for free.
Providing powerful examples are the staff at the center. Many of them are former patients who now work at the Red Cross to provide physical and mental support to the patients. They motivate them to start a new life rather than ending one.
Karima Nikgo, a Physiotherapist, Red Cross center has helped thousands of patients just like her. Nikgo was shot four times in her leg while walking home from her grandmother’s house. She was just 13. This was almost 25 years ago. Once she completed high school, the Red Cross decided to educate her as a physiotherapist.
The Red Cross is a hope for the future for many people. It not only provides medical treatment but also helps patients with their education and sports programs. “I can’t get my old life back but I will start a new life. I will continue my education and get a job,’’ says Ezra, a patient in the Red Cross. 16 years old Ezra and his six-year-old nephew Youssef were both injured in a hit-and-run accident. Both have injured their legs and lost the ability to walk. They are unable to afford private treatment hence, the center is their only and the best option.
Now Karima is helping Youssef learn to walk again. Soon, the two boys will be able to walk properly with the prosthetic legs and live a relatively normal life. The Centre also focuses on helping the patients to overcome the trauma emotionally since being a survivor gives the staff a deeper insight into the patient’s mind.
Hundreds of patients like Youssef and Ezra come daily to the center. They travel for days risking landmines and Taliban checkpoints.
The Red Cross was not yet affected by the Taliban. It was so because they had inspected the center and was content with the humanitarian work that they are doing. But this isn’t the case anymore. With their demands not being fulfilled by the center, now the Red Cross is in constant fear as the Taliban can attack them at any moment.
It is very important to protect organizations like the Red Cross center. They are one of the only very few options left for these civilians. War zones have destroyed multiple lives and it’s only the small initiatives like this one that can make a huge difference in people’s lives. They not only fix them but heal them.
