Guest post: Canada In Afghanistan Brings Health and Hope, by Jonathon Narvey

When my good friend who normally authors this blog asked me to write a post for his blogathon, my first question was, naturally, “what should I blog about?” After all, Raul and I share many common interests such as sustainability, but my own blog also covers other topics like Canadian politics and international conflict. And then there’s his chosen cause for this blogathon, raising funds for the BC Cancer Foundation. So many angles and agendas – what’s a blogger to do?

“Blog whatever you’re passionate about,” Raul answered. OK, then. Well, Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan is a cause that is near to my heart. And as it happens, there are links with Canada and Afghanistan to all of the topics I’ve mentioned above.

Most readers will probably be familiar with the broad outline of recent history in Afghanistan prior to the American-led invasion. Soon after consolidating their power throughout most of the country, the Taliban rule sent a nation already on the brink into the abyss. Health care was just one more area where this thuggish regime couldn’t possibly provide for its people. Indeed, women especially were deprived of health care, since they were only permitted to be examined in the presence of female doctors – and of course, since the Taliban forced all women to stop working, or even leave their house without the permission of a male relative, there were no female doctors.

Nearly a decade after the Taliban’s overthrow, and despite these thugs’ efforts to sabotage this fragile new democracy, the situation is improving in Afghanistan when it comes to health care. From USA Today:

Infant mortality has dropped 21%, while tuberculosis treatment has expanded from 15% to 97% of cases, according to the Johns Hopkins surveys and World Health Organization data

… In 2002, 9% of Afghans had access to basic health services, and now 85% do, Afghan Health Minister Sayed Fatimie said in an interview. “It is a tremendous achievement,” he said, “because the national health system of Afghanistan had collapsed.”

Canada has played a big role in helping keep Afghans healthy. We’ve helped in the development of clinics and provision of health care services, and are helping eradicate polio. We have much to be proud of.

But when it comes to cancer, the challenges are daunting. From this American Society of Clinical Oncology report entitled Epidemiology of cancer in Afghanistan:

The analysis was done by inviting existing patients in a cancer assistance camp organized in Kabul Afghanistan. There are no existing cancer registries or treatment facilities in the country. Patients travel to neighboring states for treatment.

How are these points all connected? Readers may recall the case of Namatulla Zaman. He was a six-year old Afghan boy who showed up at a Canadian military camp in 2006 with his grandfather, seeking urgent medical help. Namatulla was soon diagnosed with terminal cancer, with about one month left to live (Canada In Afghanistan).

A Canadian soldier contacted his church in Edmonton, which overnight raised $10,000. This was used for Namatulla’s medical care, living expenses, transport and finally, his funeral.

The youngster only lived one more month, but Canadian intervention was able to ensure that his final days were lived in relative comfort, free from the constant pain he’d experienced before coming to the camp.

In Canada and the wider Western world, we have access to health care resources, technology and support that people in other parts of the world can only dream of. I’d like to think that in future, more young people like Namatulla in Afghanistan will have treatment for their cancers or other health problems and have the chance to live full and healthy lives. This will require staying involved, providing security and assistance for a nation that needs our help.

Jonathon Narvey is a Vancouver writer and member of the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee. And he is also a very good friend of mine.

This is Entry # 32 of 49

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