CELA Profile: Saving Lives in Kabul

33 Cardiac Surgeries for Children in 10 Days

Najeeb Bina, CELA 3 fellow from Afghanistan, traveled from France to Kabul in May 2008 to conduct the first open-heart pediatric cardiac surgeries ever performed in Afghanistan,

via the worldwide volunteer program Surgeons of Hope, in French Medical Institute for Children in Kabul.

Although all facilities for performing such operations were limited the medical team of French volunteers, headed by Najeeb, was very effective. During these two weeks they performed 33 cardiac surgeries for children.

Najeeb received his degree and doctorate from Kabul Medical University, continued his education with postgraduate general surgery trainings at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, and then decided to do his postgraduate trainings in Vascular and Heart Surgery in France. Currently Najeeb is working as an assistant professor in the St. Etienne teaching hospitals, but he aims soon to return home and establish the first ever heart surgery centre in Afghanistan.