While American soldiers train Afghan troops with an eye toward the day they won't be needed. In the war weary capital of Kabul a beacon of hope from Fresno, California is reaching thousands of Afghani's every month.
This is Afshar Hospital. It opened in April of 2009. CEO Dr. Mark Scoffield talked about its purpose with us via Skype this week. "The mission that Amor has is to provide healthcare for those who can't provide for themselves."
The non-profit: 'American Medical Overseas Relief' was incorporated in Fresno, California by developer Darius Assemi and others to offer help to the Afghan people. "People are dying from simple disease that we can cure by over the counter drugs."
Health statistics in Afghanistan are grim. Four in ten children die before age five from treatable and preventable childhood illnesses. One in four women die in childbirth. And many suffer multiple miscarriages.
"The first baby born at Afshar Hospital was a mother with eight previous pregnancies and all eight had ended with the death of the baby," said Scoffield.
Afshar Hospital was built by Afghans with donated funding from the Central Valley. And its staff is also Afghani.
Back here in the Valley ... Darius Assemi talked about visiting to the hospital earlier this year.
The trip only reinforced "Amor"s plan to duplicate this kind of healthcare in Iraq and Armenia.
It will take millions of dollars that he believes will pay priceless dividends as it has in Afghanistan.
"It was a very proud moment as an American to see, really see the message of our country to be a beacon of hope," said Assemi.
