Kabul, Afghanistan Optical Eye Equipment Project

Type of Project: Transport
Request: Storage and Transport of Equipment
Location(s): Kabul, Afganistan
Recipient: Noor Eye Institute

In January 2002, the Afghan Health Consortium, comprised of a group of non-governmental organizations, joined together to restore the the Noor Eye Institute.  Located on the southern edge of Kabul, the Noor Eye Institute was originally built in 1973 and operated as a 150-bed hospital.  For years, it was a major center for the care of patients with eye disease and for the training of Afghan doctors.  However, caught in the front lines of civil war in Afghanistan in the mid-1990’s, the hospital was forced to evacuate and was severely damaged and looted. 

A local Kansas City ophthalmologist made a connection with those involved in rebuilding the hospital and requested the support of Trade Palms to transport used optical equipment and furnishings valued at over $75,000 to Kabul.  The equipment was made available when the Hunkler Eye Center of Kansas City disbanded.

Trade Palms, along with the collaboration of several other organizations, facilitated the storage and eventual transportation of this eye equipment and furnishings to Kabul.  The equipment and furnishings were transferred to a donated temporary storage facility, and then packed in large boxes for air transport by the United States government.  Having used donated boxes and used clothing for padding, the Noor Eye Institute in Kabul successfully received the eye equipment and furnishings and donated the used clothing to others in need.

The Noor Eye Institute in Kabul has continued to thrive and is considered the hub of all eye care facilities in the country.  Over 80,000 outpatients receive treatment and over 4,000 sight saving eye operations are performed yearly.