Afghanistan: Médecins Sans Frontières opens surgical hospital in Kunduz

The Médecins Sans Frontières surgical hospital in Kunduz is the only trauma centre of its kind in northern Afghanistan. It is equipped with an emergency room, two operating theatres, intensive care, as well as X-ray and laboratory facilities. There are separate male and female inpatient wards. © Olof Blomqvist/MSF

KABUL/17 October 2011 – As violent conflict continues in northern Afghanistan, the international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has opened a 55-bed surgical hospital in Kunduz Province. The hospital, which opened on August 29, provides urgent surgical care and follow-up treatment for people suffering life-threatening injuries.

Fighting over the last year in Kunduz has led to large numbers of people who have sustained bomb blast, shrapnel, and gunshot wounds, and who are in need of specialised surgical care.

The new hospital is the only trauma centre of its kind in northern Afghanistan, and is equipped with an emergency room, two operating theatres, intensive care, as well as X-ray and laboratory facilities.  There are separate male and female inpatient wards.

Médecins Sans Frontières services are completely free of charge and available to anyone meeting the admission criteria – which includes anyone that is either violently or accidently injured.

"The only label we use is ‘patient,’” said Dr. Dorian Job, Médecins Sans Frontières medical coordinator in Afghanistan. “Every injured person has the right to receive medical treatment, and we make no distinction between civilian or combatant.”

In all locations where Médecins Sans Frontières is working in Afghanistan, a strict no-weapons policy is implemented to ensure patient safety and security. It is imperative that no armed people are present in medical structures. Such a presence could make the facilities targets of attack.

Médecins Sans Frontières relies solely on private donations for its operations in Afghanistan, and does not accept any government funding.

It is the duty of all parties to a conflict to respect the rules of international humanitarian law, including those concerning the protection and respect of medical structures, medical personnel, and patients.

Médecins Sans Frontières teams also work in Ahmed Shah Baba Hospital in eastern Kabul, and Boost Hospital in Lashkargah, Helmand Province. In both locations, Médecins Sans Frontières provides free-of-charge lifesaving medical care, working in all wards of the hospitals.