Inside Dr. Shershah’s Training Mission to Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

How a team of Pakistani surgeons crossed borders—and barriers—to bring fistula care to women in need

To bring care to women who need it, we often need to get creative. In 2024, Dr. Yousuf Khan of our partner Cure Hospital emphasized the urgent need for fistula treatment beyond the capital city of Kabul. Nangarhar Regional Hospital in Jalalabad—a government-run obstetrics and gynecology facility serving an area of more than 1.5 million people—was identified as a promising site for expansion, so long as surgeons there were provided with specialized training.

But there was one glaring problem. Taliban travel restrictions and the persecution of non-Muslims made it impossible to send in most of our certified trainers (most of whom are African surgeons). As a Pakistani Muslim fistula surgeon with decades of expertise, Dr. Shershah Syed was uniquely positioned to make the journey others could not.

In July 2025, Dr. Shershah traveled to Nangarhar to provide hands-on training to two local surgeons, two anesthetists, and four nurses at the facility. Now, the surgical team can safely perform simple fistula repairs and appropriately refer more complex cases to Cure Hospital.

This cross-border collaboration expands access to care in underserved regions, and is testament to the “no woman left behind” ethos. 

Training and Transformation

The morning after they arrived, the team went straight to work. Patients were ready and Afghan doctors and midwives—known locally as Qabla—eagerly awaited the training.

“The midwives and doctors were very friendly,” said Dr. Shershah. “They all were very keen to learn. They were asking questions about training in Pakistan. I was surprised by their enthusiasm.”

Over the course of the week, the team performed 15 fistula surgeries while training two Afghan surgeons—Dr. Basira and Dr. Zarghona—on simple fistula repair techniques. These two doctors, who had remained in Afghanistan despite the Taliban takeover, would soon receive certification as fistula surgeons capable of treating patients in their own community.

Building Lasting Impact

Beyond delivering surgeries to women in need, Dr. Shershah’s mission built relationships that will extend access to care long into the future. The team connected with the President of the Afghan Midwives Association and the President of the Afghan Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and discussed plans for a future medical conference on maternal health and fistula care.

Now, the surgical team at Nangarhar Regional Hospital can safely perform simple fistula repairs and appropriately refer more complex cases to specialists. This cross-border collaboration expands access to care in underserved regions and is testament to the “no woman left behind” ethos.

For the women of Afghanistan living with fistula, Dr. Shershah’s journey represents something significant: proof that they haven’t been forgotten, and that dedicated surgeons will cross any border to ensure that no woman is left behind.

Read more stories of surgeons going beyond the call of duty on our blog, and learn how your support makes missions like this possible.
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