If there is ever a place on Earth guaranteed to break your heart, it's the Indirah Ghandi Children's Hospital. Yesterday, I went there to deliver some toys for the kids as well as some much needed medical supplies.
This is Afghanistan's ONLY pediatric hospital and there were just 50-60 beds. Beyond that, they can't handle any more. The majority of children are victims of war, children either caught in the crossfire, landmines, roadside bombs or injured from playing with unexploded ordinance they find which ultimately goes off. Many are badly burned and missing limbs. They screaming and crying is non-stop.
This hospital only receives $400 a month from the Afghan government to operate. The rest comes from outside donations. Needless to say they are seriously lacking in many departments. They have no bed netting to keep the flies off the children's burns. They have to reuse bandages and dressings because they don't have enough. Not every patient gets antibiotics because they just don't have enough.
The building is filthy and nasty and the smell is oppressive.
I e-mailed every television station I ever worked for and offered to do liveshots and packages to seek donations for these people. Only one station responded; NBC 24 in Toledo, Ohio. Tim Livingston is the news director, a good guy who is working on a plan for a Holiday fundraiser. I'm a happily RETIRED broadcaster, but this is one cause that could easily get me back in front of the camera.
To check out some video I shot from the Indirah Ghandi Children's Hospital, just click onto this link; http://www.dvidshub.net/vjump.php?vid=50015.
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