Surgical cooperation between Afghanistan and France

Relations between France and Afghanistan began in 1922, ninety years ago in two areas : archeology with the creation of D.A.F.A and an elementary school (Franco-afghan school) which became two decades later secondary schools (lycées).Medical cooperation began in 1947, mainly with the University of Lyon : nearly one hundred selected students came to France to train in specialties (medicine and surgery). Most of them went back to Kabul and became associate professors or professors of the University of Kabul. Tens of doctors, professors, nurses spent one or several years in UMK and Ali Abad University hospital. It stopped in 1980.During twenty years French doctors were present in NGO either at the border or in Peshawar (MRCA), some of them in Kabul (ICRC)At the end of 2001 institutional cooperation resumed at new Ali Abad Hospital and UMK.Before describing the training of young Afghan students for surgery, the author gives the results of surgical missions during four years An institutional cooperation surgical is sustainable, useful out of FMIC, Institut Français pour la Mère et l'Enfant, and activities of NGO and military hospitals.