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09/19/2003: "Kandahar Chronicles #12 - 17/09/2003"

Today Dr. Kabirullah worked his final day with us in Kandahar for at least the next year. A fine young doctor and fun guy, he joined MSF in mid 2000 and worked his way up the ladder. He served as medical team leader when the expat team was evacuated earlier this year due to serious security incidents. After Bertien and I arrived in May, he continued to work hard supervising the Zhare Dahst medics out in the baking desert, enduring sandstorms and sometimes-hostile tempers of staff and patients. We threw a going away party for him yesterday afternoon and invited any staff or fellow doctors that wanted to come. Dancing, sweet pastries, tea, group photos and short speeches. A bit like an Afghan version of an old Dean Martin roast. He will be missed and hard to replace.

Our loss is not MSFs loss however, as he is on his way to Holland for the two week training course before becoming an expat himself. He has been offered a contract working in the north of Sudan. There, he’ll join a team dealing with whatever it is they have going on. Knowing MSF it will probably be treating nasty diseases in an inhospitable climate surrounded by roving, armed brigands. Most people come in to the training not knowing what to expect, while “Special K” has had loads of experience working a senior position in a tough project. Still, he is excited to expand his horizons in another country and he will always have a position waiting for him in Afghanistan.