Army Request for Burn Unit & Maternity Ward in Herat

This project is dedicated to Santa Gracia Ramirez, killed by a car bomb in Kabul in June 2007

After the rule of the Taliban and decades of war, Afghanistan's healthcare system has been neglected. Equipment is in short supply and hospitals are in disrepair. Army Colonel Wendell Hickman in cooperation with attorney Melinda Lord seeks your help in improving conditions for at least one community --Herat, Afghanistan.

Burn victims, all females

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Women & Children Suffer Under Poor Healthcare Conditions
Nearly two-thirds of the Afghan population is without access to basic health-care facilities. Women and children are especially affected as Afghanistan has one of the word's highest maternal and child mortality rates. Some studies estimate that an Afghan woman dies giving birth every 30 minutes. In addition, women are often burn victims either at the hands of angry relatives or self-inflicted as a protest against harsh circumstances.

Pediatrics Ward The 400-bed Herat Hospital is the only non-military hospital in this entire province in Western Afghanistan. Supply needs are critical for the Burn Unit where cream, bandages and IV saline are the only solace available for patients, some of whom are tragic victims of the difficult intentional burnings.

Sparse delivery room
Ms.Lord wrote to us "anything that will help these burn patients is a blessing. They have nothing but some creme, and bandages and saline IV for the most needy and Tramadol for pain. It is pure triage there. If a victim has no chance, she just gets wrapped in blankets until she dies. So really, everything is a priority."

The Gozahra Clinic in Herat desperately needs OBGYN and ER equipment such as x-ray machines, surgical instruments and operating lights. Anything that can be sent will help to improve the chances for survival and good health for the women and children treated there.

Your support of this project will enable SoA to contribute critical supplies to the Herat Burn Center, Gozahra Clinic and similiar facilities throughout Western Afghanistan. In addition to the items listed above which SoA will provide with your help, we will partner with Orchard International in shipping an ocean container of supplies donated specifically for Herat Hospital including incubators, baby warmers, and vitamins.

Use of funds
We are a 501c3 nonprofit and your donation is tax deductible. 100% of all project donations (excluding credit card processing fees) will be used for direct project expenses (i.e., purchase and shipping of the needed goods and services). We do not deduct fees or expenses for organization overhead. Those expenses are funded separately. Donation Policy Your donation will be earmarked for this project. Donations in excess of those needed by this project will be used to support other Spirit of America projects.