Two years ago, Dr. Brack Davis, a retired orthopedic surgeon living in Sun Valley, decided he wanted to do something to help the situation in Afghanistan. As a doctor, he felt he could volunteer his skills in the war-torn country desperate for medical aid.
"I was in a civilian hospital in Kabul, which had 250 beds and was built in 1962 by the Czechs," Davis said. "People suffered from landmine injuries, burns, gun shots and suicide bombing wounds. When there were attacks, 20 to 30 people would be killed and 30 to 40 people would be injured."
Davis will share his experience of the time he spent in 2005 and 2006 at a Kabul hospital during a free talk and slide show at the Community Library in Ketchum on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. He will also discuss the philanthropic endeavors for Afghanistan that he has pursued since his return.
"It was a disadvantage not having medical equipment or one X-ray machine for a hospital of 250 people," Davis said. "IVs and medicine were minimal, as well as narcotics for surgery and post-op medications."
Davis said there were days when he could do elective surgery as well as talk with local hospital workers about America. He said that though Afghanistan is a nation that lives off foreign aid, the Afghan people do not like having foreign NATO troops and Americans around. However, he said, the Afghans understand if the troops were not in Afghanistan the Taliban would take over in no time.
"I was never frightened," Davis said. "They respected seniors and physicians. Suicide bombers seek out people in uniform."
While in Afghanistan, Davis traveled to the northern province of Kunduz where he visited a girls' school and became inspired to send computers to the school.
"I went to several different schools, and it was very rewarding," he said. "Education is a great service we can provide. The girls have so little education, and to educate them means future generations can make a change in Afghanistan."
Davis also supports an orphanage in Kabul, which takes care of 30 children whose parents were killed. Davis and his family support the orphanage and pay the salaries of two teachers, who make $200 per month.
Davis donated several computers to this girl’s school in Kunduz, Afghanistan.
Photo by Dr. Brack Davis
