"I am a nurse specializing in pediatric anesthesiology, radiology and angiography. I worked in pediatric surgery for nine years and in emergency rooms for five years in one of Australia's largest hospitals.
I decided to join MSF on December 1, 2003. As soon as I read the charter, I made up my mind. I wanted to be part of these small islands of humanitarian aid in isolated areas. I've been on MSF missions in Liberia [2004], Nigeria [2005], Haiti [2006], Chad [2007], Gaza [2008], Haiti again [2009] and, since 2010, in Hangu, Pakistan, about 70 kilometers from the Afghan border.

This isolated, poor, rural district has suffered from years of conflict between opposition armed forces and government forces and between Sunni and Shia, and has been effect by the presence of Afghan Taliban and groups linked to Al Qaeda as well. The population, which totals 500,000, includes 150,000 displaced Pakistanis and 78,000 Afghan refugees. People in this area suffer regularly from malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis.* We also see a lot of diabetes, hypertension, severe cardiac problems, diabetic coma, renal insufficiency, kidney stones, liver failure and tuberculosis.

In May 2010, MSF opened an emergency room and a surgical department in the district hospital. We have 42 beds and treat an average of 1,200 patients in the emergency room every month. Approximately 35 percent of them suffer from traumatic wounds. Most of our surgeries are performed on victims of violence (including wounds from bullets, knives, explosives, attacks, mortars, grenades, bombings and aerial attacks). Our team also treats more ‘standard’ cases, such as roadway, household and industrial accidents. Since the program opened, we have treated more than 150,000 people in the emergency room and have performed more than 600 operations.

Because of the insecurity, the team lives and works in the hospital. Metal detectors, sandbags, body and vehicle searches make the hospital the only public place in the district where weapons are not present. This program is special. It requires considerable psychological, emotional and physical effort. The work is difficult and the region is, too. But this is a fascinating, unique and remarkably rich experience.

MSF does not accept institutional funding for its programs in Pakistan and has chosen to rely solely on private contributions. I wanted to thank you for your support, which has made all this possible."

*Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a skin infection caused by the Phlebotomus mosquito.

Since 1986, in Pakistan…

… MSF has provided free medical assistance to Pakistanis and Afghan refugees who are victims of armed conflict and natural catastrophes and with limited access to care. MSF works in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the federally-administered tribal areas (FATA), Balochistan and Kashmir.