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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here regularly, so visit again to read more
comments.
How to Help
In response to some of your questions, the filmmakers have suggested the following:
“Individuals who'd like to make
a difference empowering women and children in Afghanistan, visit the Web site of the
Shuhada Organization to find out how to
help. In the film, Dr. Mojadidi brings his expertise to a Shuhada hospital." http://www.shuhada.org/
12/08/2008
Lynn Robson
Washington, DC
I lived in Jawzjan and Faryab for 3.5 years managing hospitals and clinics and developing a midwife school in Shiberghan. Please contact Dr Muiasar who is head of the midwife school. She is first rate in reducing child and maternal mortality as is Dr Athar Hadi, Dr Malhia Enyat and Dr Rahmatullah EPI specialist first class. Infection prevention, and 18 month training placing 60 plus trained midwives in clincis and health posts. They are working hard and making a big difference.
They have conducted formative research in post partum hemorraghning and wonderfully have replicated PD Hearth an infant nutrition program which is highly successful.
01/08/2008
Alexandria, VA
Thank you for a very powerful film. It really touched me, and also had me in tears for these peoples' needless sufferings. I don't however believe the lack of American supplies is one of the main contributing factors to the severe breakdown in the healthcare system in Afghanistan. I do believe is the US promised to deliver supplies they should make good on their promise- However I also know a lot of supplies and medical care comes to Afghanistan from the US miitary. This was not shown in your movie nor was it mentioned.
The state of health care in Afghanistan is world wide problem. Your film showed the the human side of the issue by sharing stories of individuals. No one should die these days in simple child birth- infant mortality should not reach 18% anywhere in our world today, and fistulas should not number over 100,000 in one counrty. This is a statement on all humanity.
I have witnessed health care systems in several third world countries. Unfortunately, lack of advanced provider education, adequate nursing care and supplies are usua;ly on the top of te list of problems.
Americans have the best health care system in the world, yet continue to complain about it. Each American should watch this movie and maybe wakeup to the realities in Afghanistan and many other around the world. They will also possibly realize what they have and help out others not so fortunate. Thank you for showing us the health care crisis going on and the good works of Dr Mojadidi, and his family. Perhaps this will get the attention of people worldwide and perhaps people, not governments, will come to the aid of the women in Afghanistan. I will certaininly be one of them.
10/24/2007
I work in a hospital and know all to well hoe much waste there is and I would like to relp "recycle" that wast ans put it to good use. Can you please tell me how I may be able to get in touch with him? I was moved beyond words after watching this documentary. I have been on medical missons to Rawanda and to Cairo within the past ten years. I am absolutely embarrassed to admit that we, as Americans, have no reason at all to complain about our healthcare system. In American eyes, we are being treated unfairly.......go live in the Middla East where whils you are having surgery with a knife blade that has been soaking in Alcohol, used several times, cuts through your body and the pain injections they administer to you go through an 18 gauge iv catheter that has been used several times as well and "flushed" and is hopefully clean enough so that you won't get Hepatitis. Your sponges that are used to soak up blood have been rung out and washed in dirty water and hung
up outside to be folded and reused again and again...not to mention the suture that is decades old, or not the appropriate ttype to use for the specific task at hand....We as a country, should be ashamed of ourselfes. I bothers be to go to work in our Operating Room here and listen to the Surgoens complain about not having the "best" and or top of the line equipment or bowel staplers or mesh....the list goes on and on. I know that there are others who understand and feel the same frustrations. I would like to help...what can I send to him.....that we throw so non-chalantly away?
3/22/07
Lisa Sugent
Chicago, IL
Dr. Mujadidi is a saint for his work in Afghanistan. His wife, also a doctor, is a saint,
too, and thank you so much for his daughter and the other documentaries of this amazing
film. I will pay more attention to this issue and get active as a U.S. citizen and
taxpayer to help the cause of women's health care in Afghanistan. The fact that 100,000
women in Afghanistan suffer from fistulas is pathetic. Thank you for bringing this issue
to my attention. The faces of the patients who were helped was so moving.
2/26/07
Sue Burke
Beaufort, SC
Can't this film, Motherland Afghanistan, be made into a documentary that would be more
widely shown? It is unusually moving and needs to be brought to the attention of American
women...
2/26/07
Wingnut
Minnesota
The Independent Lens series about Afghanistan women... was just excellent. Lets try to
open some more opportunities for projects like that. But lets not empower them thru
funding, lets empower them thru making their moviemaking costs... be zero. Eliminate
pricetags, not feed them, ya know? Again, excellent programming there, gang. Lets see
(even) more like that.
2/22/07
Betty Helwig.RN
Media, PA 19064
What a wonderful film and story about a remarkable man and his dedicated work! I agree
with the other comments that have been
written. It brought tears to my eyes and I cannot stop telling others about it. I am
hoping it will be rerun on our PBS
station but as far as we can determine now, there is no plan to do it. All of America
should see it and understand the
problems with health care for women in Afghanistan. Shame on H H and S. for their neglect
in following through. Maybe Laura
Bush could visit the area and understand. Hope she viewed the film. Thanks to the PBS
station, Channel 12 for showing it.
2/22/07
Deborah Xavier
Thank You for your film and your voice for the Afgan people. This is the War that needs to
be fought.The war cost billions
more than the pennies needed to supplies basic health care and improvement of
infrastructure. How outstanding if we would
utilize our troops to rebuild the hospital in Kabul along with local people.The obstacle
to fixing the problem is lack of
understanding by the American policy makers,people are less likely to fight when they have
food,clothing,proper shelter,
medical health and education.The misplace US resources could help the masses one village
at a time.We could send our interns
for 3-6 months to train alongside Military Medics, our with programs like Dr Qudral etc or
exchange programs in health
related fields in the US for Afgan doctors.Dr Qudral Mojadidi thanks to you and your
family, however you appear very
exhausted and may need to take a break from the overwhelming task. What annoy me the most
was the lack of response to the
request for supplies, Dr Mojadidi has such an outstanding track record in addressing the
health care needs, wish my field was
in health care.Their other third world countries with health but the stress of this
continued war must be devastating.
2/22/07
Cocoa, Fl
The American Gov. is the only problem I know how to fix. Before I saw Motherland
Afghanistan I was calling for the
impeachment of both George W. Bush & Dick Cheny. Now, after viewing this segment of the
series Independent Lens I will not
settle for any other measure short of crucifying them both. Anyone that is capable of
sending a man as close to the image of
Christ as the man who is the subject of this documentary into such conditions armed with
only a letter from HHS Sec Thompson
& their best wishes deserves nothing less!!!!!!!! A true blue stand-up guy would commit to
the full unqualified support of
such a unselfish humanitarian. If the OB/GYN in this film wanted a yellow dog to defecate
on his desk at 5 AM in the morning
any leader worth following would move heaven & earth to make it happen...
2/22/07
Canjuncao
St.Louis,Mo
This is a film that i think i really need to help after seeing.i donate 20 dollars even i
am nearly bank broke. whame on
bush!!!!!
2/22/07
Allison Herrera
Minneapolis, Minnesota
My husband and I watched this program last night. I am pregnant with our first child. I
felt such compassion and gratitude
towards the filmmaker and her father for telling this story. I want to know how I can get
people to donate to the Shadyha
hospital in lieu of giving a gift at my baby shower. We in the US talk about our broken
health care system, but we should be
so grateful that we at least live at most 20 minutes away in some cases to the hospital if
we have an emergency. Thank you so
much for this documentary.
2/22/07
Sina Naebkhil
Windsor
I was speechless after watching this documentary. I ask of the creators to please do not
stop in these efforts to inform us
of what is really going on. I feel that it is not the news broadcasts that give us the
news but it is these independent
documentaries that really open our eyes to what is actually going on. Again I ask that
this work never be stopped for these
are the truths and realities of Afghanistan. Throughout the show I went through a roller
coaster of emotions. I cried for joy
and then for sadness, I felt anger and then happiness. These are the films that the world
needs to watch to get what is
really going on. In answering the questions I believe that all the three factors are
obstacles to fixing the system. One can
not be fixed by itself all three need to be tackled at the same time. I was aware of the
reproductive health crisis. This is
my country and it is so hard to see my people go through all this. What needs to be
realized is that Afghanistan can not do
it all by itself. The promises must be fulfilled in order to move forward. Women issues
have now been put on the priority
list and all aspects of women's lives must be addressed. I have not experienced any of the
situations that were shown on the
show, but many of my relatives that have gone back have brought back these stories of just
the lack of facilities resulted in
women and unborn children dieing. Even if the women reached the hospitals conditions did
not help at all. I again thank the
film makers for the important message that they have conveyed. It was great to see
tradition, religion, culture and science
being intertwined to expose such a powerful message. Thank you very much- Khud-afiz
2/22/07
Arthur Selye
Champaign, Illinois
Shame, shame, sheme on Tommy Thompson, George Bush, Laura Bush and all the other
Washington hypocrites.
2/22/07
Angela Cain
Nogal, NM
I just viewed this wonderful program. My son is being deployed to Afghanistan next month
and I had such reservations, until I
saw the beautiful faces of these wonderful people, and the work the doctor has done and is
doing. My son is part of the
military and is a humanitarian medic with the US Army. My daughter just returned from Iraq
as a medic had a very enriching
experience with the Iraqi people and I hope my son has the same, and in some small way is
able to give assistance.
I am aware of the crises there and I understand that the nutritional needs are dire,
particularly among the children. It is
sad that we as a global community allowed the escalation of such abuse, especially toward
women, to go on for so long. But I
see a real strength in these people. I will write my senators and urge them to keep their
promises made to this country. What
I wouldn’t give to go and help in some way!
Thank you for such an enlightening and wonderful program!
2/15/07
Farah Eshetu
A huge thank you for showing the wonderful Afghan doctor's contributions to the betterment
of his people. Tears were rolling
down my cheeks as I watched the documentary. Fistula is also a big problem in my own
country of Ethiopia and there is a
facility that deals strictly with this issue called the Fistula Foundation. I will check
out the 'get involved' feature on
your site. Many thanks for enriching our life with your programs!
2/15/07
Janet Walker
Thank you for airing this poignant piece about the state of hospitals and female health
care in Afghanistan. The spirit of Dr
Mojadedi must be appreciated.It really showed what the real human beings have to face
despite all the ridiculous claims by
politicians and the geo-political games they play.
I can guarantee you if NATO spent $5 billion on revamping the entire health care system in
Afghanistan and ensure female
education, any "re-emerging" problem of the Taliban or terrorism will disappear. The way
to bring a nation to your side is
through humane actions and real care instead of jingoism and bombs.
2/15/07
Janet Walker
Goshen, Ct.
Thank you so much for the presentation on the work being done by Dr.Mojadidi in
Afghanistan. As I watched the program I
wanted to know how I can help. Is there an organization that I can send money to and
support his work? Are there volunteer
programs? I am not in the medical field. It was very disturbing to hear about the lack of
response form the American
Government. I would appreciate any information about ways to support this type of work.
The people were so grateful. They
deserve our support for a healthier life. Thank you for such worthwhile programing.
2/15/07
Locust Hill, VA
I was moved to tears as well, regarding the conditions of the women of Afghanistan, & to
the valiant efforts of Dr. Mojadidi.
Then, tears of anger, as U.S.-promised supplies were not delivered! Just who, what agency
is accountable?! It was incredulous
watching this generous man & his family having to leave the women of Afghanistan for this
lack of supplies/support!
Very grateful, that the film carried the Mojadidis back to Afghanistan to carry on with
his medical help via alternative
means. As an American, I am ashamed, upset, angry that our govt. agencies failed again.
Peace in this world will only come
about through such humanitarian efforts as portrayed in this Indie film. Please direct me
to the appropriate agencies so I
may voice my concerns. Thanks to the filmmakers, the Mojadidi family, and thank goodness
for PBS-TV, that I was able to see
this. Patricia
2/15/07
Euless, Texas
I love the film! Brought so much more awareness of the struggles of our sisters in the
middle east...I did not know about the
crisis in hospitals and child birth mortality rate.
2/15/07
East Windsor, NJ
God bless the Mojadidi Family. Thank God PBS provides for programs like Independent Lens
and Frontline, which never fail to
educate me. I was aware of the conditions in Afghanistan because I watch programs like
this as often as they are aired. I
wish the united States would do more. I also wish wealthy Muslim nations would support and
educate (not just religious
education) the poor and neglected Muslims, no matter what country they live in.
2/15/07
Rene Ruiz
Guadalajara, Mexico
It is all about political reasons, they named a Hospital "Laura Bush" and sent this Afghan
Doctor to make things look like
USA is really helping...But this video is a great proof that here in USA corruption
exists.
2/15/07
Mary Johnson
San antonio, TX
I was so moved by the film I was in tears, such courageous women. I cannot imagine living
under such horrific conditions, how
could you find any joy in life ( our children are our joy) Dr Mojadidi and his family are
saints as well as all the people
striving to raise the standard of living in Afghanistan by empowering and educating their
most precious resource, the Afghan
people. There is much we take for granted here in the United States. I was so ashamed of
our current administration for the
failure to fund this program which was at our fingertips with everything in place to make
it work. How can the people in
charge of HHS sleep at night. I am truly sickened. I would like to know how to make direct
donations to help, and will
encourage others to do the same. My apologies to the people of Afghanistan for the lack of
concern and assistance from the
Bush Administration.
2/15/07
Sharon Lash
This film depicted the hardships as well as the noble bravery of the Hazaras who inhabit
central Afghanistan, as shown in the
segment in the hospital in Jaghori. I had the honor to work in Bamyan with the Shuhada
Organization and its founder, Dr. Sima
Samar, in 1998 and 1999. At that time, the people of Afghanistan languished under the
tyrannical rule of the brutal Taliban
regime, and it will take years to reverse the damage wrought by that era. I have not been
in Afghanistan since 2002, and I
fear that while health care may have marginally improved for the inhabitants of the
cities, the rural population has seen far
less investment in the health care infrastructure, which is nearly nonexistent. We must be
clear that that Afghanistan has
never been a developed nation, and the Ministry of Health will need substantial long term
technical, administrative, and
economic support. In the meantime, the responsibility will fall on organizations like
Shuhada, and other NGOs in Afghanistan.
Dr. Mojadidi and his daughter Sedika gives voice to the silent suffering of the women of
Afghanistan, and his dedication to
improving womenâs health is something to take example from and emulate. In this film, Dr.
Mojadid expresses his fears for
these women so poignantly--he is right to question how many women never make it out of the
village, and how many women die on
the way to seek health care. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the staggering poverty and
lack of public resources to address
the most basic health care needs. I know I was. But the people of Afghanistan are strong
and resourceful, and donations to
local organizations like Shuhada go far.
2/15/07
Alix Nelson-Frick
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Motherland Afghanistan may be the most powerful short film I have ever watched--an
extraordinary story of suffering and
heroism, of ignorance and courage, and of the appalling behavior of HHS with regard to a
country we have an obligation to
help but instead continue to ignore.
2/15/07
Ziba Amed
Aliso Viejo, Ca
I greatly appreciate that such stories are shown on TV, because people need a constant
reminder that things in Afghanistan
don't just get better instantly, but that this is a long and slow process and it should
not be abandoned. I feel that our
parentsâ generation worked very hard to save us from poverty, and war, and now it is our
turn, the Afghan-American
generation, to help those left behind, those less fortunate. We are obligated to do so,
and we should not abandon them as we
have in the past. Unfortunately, the fast pace, busy lifestyle we have adapted living the
American, we sometimes forget our
priorities, our responsibilities. This video shows how much one can do with just so
little. After 911, I joined a non-profit
organization called Afghan Relief Organization, ARO, which delivers humanitarian aid to
underprivileged villages. I was
amazed how an organization such as Shuhada has been able to do all they have for the
Afghans. Although ARO is a small
organization we are tempted to do more than we have, and hopefully expand as much as
Shuhada has. I encourage you to find an
organization that you trust, as I have, and
help them in any way possible, weather itâll be through generous donation, or your time.
If you live in the Orange County
area and would like to help ARO, you can go to their 2007 Annual Fundraising Event, on
February 23rd. You can visit their
website for more information at www.afghanrelief.com. I thank PBS for taking the time to
cover a story about my people.
2/15/07
Bernadette Walker
Campbell, California
I was in tears the entire time as I watched the conditions of the Afghan women. My heart
is overflowing with compassion. I am
trying to right now to get the word out and hope this film can be shown as part of Women's
History month on our campus. Thank
you for your work and God bless you.
2/14/07
Warren rorden
westfield, N.J.
Thanks for a GREAT program on Afghanistan and the great Dr.Qudrat and his wonderful work
to rebuild the country.I would like
to make a contribution to the Shuhada organization but could not find out where to send
it.Please let me help. you are doing
a great service to the viewers,keep it coming. Thanks So Much go-PBS
2/14/07
Frayba
Long Island,NY
I just want to say to Dr. Mojadidi, that you did an amazing job in Afghanistan. I am a
health profession student. I am hoping
that one day, I will be able to go there and do some volunteer work.
2/14/07
Richard Jacobs
Suprise, Arizon
My wife and I watched the program with such a feeling of sorrow for the Afghan people. The
program touched us very close to
our hearts as we lived in Kabul in 1969-1971. I was employed by the American International
School of Kabul. My wife and
family of 4 children spent the most rewarding years of our lives. We met many Afghans and
most notably the Seraj family. I
spent time in the hospital in Kabul having a double hernia operation. An Afghan doctor and
an America Dr.Zeller operated on
me. At that time the operating room was first rate but the recovery was very much like in
the film. We had to supply our own
anesthetic, water, linens etc. Quite an experience. We have many slides to always remind
us of what it was like then. I hope
more programs like that will let people be aware of the need for help. We as a nation are
doing nothing to provide that help.
Our tax dollars are going to the wrong places. Thank you again for a great program. The
Jacobs family.
2/14/07
Steve
Tucson, AZ
Please someone advise us of how to get actual aid (a.k.a. my credit card) into these
people's hands. My government may have
forgotten them already, but because of this film, I hope not to. I would like to feel
American again, and I'm afraid I
haven't in some time. Peace, Steve
2/14/07
Stephanie Weidman
Joshua, TX
After seeing the program on channel 13 I was so moved. Someday I would like to be the one
to work with all of the different
organizations to provide doctors like Dr. Mojadidi the necessary equipment that he needs
to save lives. I know in this
country we are so wasteful. They need supplies and I would like to be able to get him what
he needs. Also to work with
supplier to get him what he needs. That is my purpose.
2/14/07
Bonnie Harding
Traverse City Michigan
I want to first thank pbs for the broadcasting of this latest episode about the women of
Afganastan. And secondly want to say
to Dr. Mojadidi that what he has decided to do is incredible. How noble, how amazing! As i
watch this from my home (where
doctors are there when you need them) I couldnt help but feel, with regret how fortunate
we are here in America. How "lucky"
we are. I learned that some of these women dont ever make it to the hospital, and when or
if they do its been a long journey.
My heart broke when I later learned that the second twin did not make it. I can not
imagine how that woman hurt. And through
all of that, Dr. Mojadidi did what he could to be positive. You are an amazing individual.
Thank you for being a light for
these people. You are changing the world one person at a time. God Bless, Bonnie Harding.
2/14/07
Steve Franks
Tucson, AZ
Now that we've dried our eyes, where do we donate damnit? I'm tired of feeling unamerican
because we're leaving a trail of
societies that look like corpses behind our wars? Whatever happened to the good old days
when we lifted up Europe, Japan,
Korea? I for one am willing to put my money where my mouth is, but the links to the actual
NGO's on the ground don't take
visa, and I don't want my cash going to the 'beltway bandits' the filmmaker mentions. God
willing, Steve
2/14/07
Anthony Galligani
NY, NY
I was deeply saddened by watching this film that the efforts of Dr Mojadidi in Kabul were
thwarted by the incompetence of
Health and Human Services who apparently have taken the conservative maxim of do-nothing
government to an awful extreme. How
fitting that the hospital was named after the first lady. How gratifying as well that the
Doctor found a worthy place amongst
the Hazara people to practise and to train Afghan doctors, thus fulfilling his dreams and
his calling.
2/14/07
Erick Nunez
Bronx, NY
What an amazing piece. I was very moved by the entire documentary. Dr. Mojadidi and his
family are the ideal for all
Americans. Thank you for bringing us quality programming and highlighting a problem that
otherwise would have not been made
known on other networks.
2/14/07
Berenice Katzen-Cohen
Yonkers NY
Though I'd read the statistics on infant mortality in Afghanistan this was one of the most
gripping films I've ever seen. It
made clear two reasons for that death rate: the distances people have to go to get any
medical attention ( worsened by lack
of good roads, cars) and the very few and poorly trained medical personnel. The work this
doctor has done reminded me of
another medical hero- Paul farmer in Haiti. The description of the good work Shuhada has
done raised a question about a group
I've contributed money to : " Women for Afghan Women." I'd like to know that they are
doing equally good work with the
contributions they get and would appreciate any information on the best way to make sure
individual contributions get used
well. And after seeing this film I'd have to bitterly agree that perhaps it's good that
the US is sure al Queda still is
operating in Afghanistan. Otherwise we might not be sending any help no matter how poorly
allocated.
2/14/07
Judi Fitch
Boca Raton, Florida
I just happened onto your show on Motherland Afghanistan tonight. I normally watch some
mindless program as I prepare to go
to sleep. Now, I cannot sleep. How can anyone sleep as such suffering surrounds us? Your
show was clearly a reminder for me
that my world is so terribly small and selfish and without real meaning. I cried
throughout the video and kept saying, "what
can I do to help"? The Dr. and his family represent what, and who, we truly are meant to
be, no matter where on this earth we
are located. I had so long forgotten that we are here simply to help others and now I have
awakened to that truth once again.
I will find a way to help. Thank you so much for a beautiful wake up call.
2/14/07
Meenu B Dolezal
Simply wonderful, not just the movie but the whole attempt by Dr Mohadidi and his family.
True heroes. I salute you.
2/14/07
Yvonne Farooq
St Louis, MO
I can't wait to see this program. I was in Pakistan not long ago in a small village where
my in-laws live and my six month
old son became ill. I took him to see a local doctor and I was amazed to see the same
needle and syringe being used on every
child that was getting an injection needless to say I didn't let them give my son any
injection. The doctor was very
intelligent and well spoken but the nurse who was working downstairs was very careless and
lazy to tell you the truth. I
never expected for the health care to be like it is in America but I could never have
imagined this. I'm wishing you and your
wife the best of luck you must be an amazing pair the two of you. God Bless you.
2/14/07
Russell Anderson
Elloree, SC
I support etv of SC and was very impressed with the program Motherland Afghanistan. I am
an EMT-Basic and was just gasping
for breath at the lack of help that was available. Knowledge that seems so basic. My heart
aches to be able to help in some
way. Out of fear my desire to help would be financially. I've been searching and have
found no obvious links or addresses. I
will continue to try and find something. But after finding this page I wanted to ask you
how I can send even a box of
sutures, purchase medical manuals in their language... Again thank yo for opening my eyes
to this problem. If this is
printed, let us all lift these people and this Doctor up in prayer. God Bless this effort,
this station and programming.
2/14/07
Shanaz Nacy Judge, RN
1) Lack of supplies from American government at the current time is a major contributer to
the broken health care system in
Afghanistan. Afghani families are very grateful to receive any medical help that is
provided for them as the video
displayed.
2) I have read many articles in the past about the very high infant mortality rate and the
lack of the most primitive form of
health care for Afghani women and children.
3) I graduated from Indiana University School of Nursing in 2004. I am sometimes very
critical of the imperfections of the
health care here in America.
But, I am very shocked of how an operating room looks in the Afghani Hospitals.
I am a native of Afghanistan and I was very touched by this program. It is my dream also
to somehow contribute to the health
care system in Afghanistan. I would love to accompany your family in one of your futrue
journeys to Afghanistan. Thank You So
Much.
Editors Note:
Talkback questions can be found at
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/motherlandafghanistan/submissions.html
2/14/07
Amy Skypala
Fort Smith, Arkansas
My heart broke for all the women in the film and all of those unseen that they represent.
If America is sincere about winning
hearts and minds in the Middle East, supporting basic medical and maternity care would be
money well spent. It begs the
question why, then, did the Dept. of Health and Human Service never pony up the money they
promised (a drop in the bucket
compared to what is spend on the war in Iraq)? My first first stop after watching this
documentary was to my computer to
email my senators and representative to ask them those questions and request they watch
the documentary for themselves. Thank
you Ms. Mo
jadidi and thank you PBS.
2/14/07
Naazneen Allabux
First of all I would like to thank Dr. Mojadidi and his family for undertaking the project
they did. The most surprising
thing for me was how the Secretary at HHS had the time to type up and write a thank-you
note to the Dr. I wish the
bureaucratic aspect of the struggle was further explored-possibly solutions offered.
Lastly, I also wish PBS would make
donation information more readily available. I am sure there are many people like myself
who would want to send in private
donations.
2/14/07
Lisa Kuhl
Omaha, Ne
Our son was born 5 weeks premature in Omaha.He came home with us but was unable to suckle.
With a Medela breast pump, I was
able to pump my own milk and give him the fat with every feeding that is called "liquid
gold." Our little preemie thrived so
much,he has been in the 90% height range from his 6mo. checkup through his 3rd year. I
wonder if one breast pump was supplied
in each hospital in Afghanistan, if preemies would have a better chance since they would
not have to work so hard to get the
full fat and immunities their mother's milk provides.
2/14/07
Susan Dittus
Boise Idaho
This heart wrenching show made me question even more what we have achieved for the Afghan
people, especially women. The lack
of supplies is unforgivable in my view - I understand the role of religious extremism, but
the state of the hospitals was
nightmarish, and the form letters from my government would have been pathetic except in
the circumstances they were criminal.
2/14/07
Trey McAlister
Ft. Worth, Texas
These are the types of documentaries that the U.S. people and the world need to see more
often. Here in America, we have
closed our eyes to what the world outside of our borders have to deal with in their daily
life. I commend these young ladies
and the doctor for their efforts to help get the word out to those who can help if they
decide to do so. God Bless
2/14/07
I will say that “Motherland Afghanistan”is an Independent Lens program I
found terribly hard to watch –
my heart soared and
plummeted; plummeted and soared…and soared again. Such suffering and unbelievable
conditions, but oh, such hope, Such
Hope,
SUCH HOPE! What an incredible, incredible, absolutely incredible man is Dr. Mojadidi. The
good doctor’s dedication,
tenderness, and compassion are seemingly unlimited and are soul-warming to witness.
Praises to both him and his wife for
their work and to their daughter for showing the world what needs to –and
can– be done in Afghanistan if people
would only
give a damn. As I said, my heart plummeted and soared as I watched it, but in the end, the
film is absolutely soul-warming. I
am a better person for having seen it and for having met the Mojadidis through it. I lived
in Kabul in the 60s and 70s and a
part of my being will always belong to the warm, resilient, beautiful Afghan people, and
to Afghanistan, the country I
consider the home of my youth
2/14/07
Sheila Mc Mahon Perez, R.N.
Slaterville, RI
I was overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness and compassion while I viewed this
piece.. Shame also welled over me as this
dedicated practitioner waited and waited and waited for his much needed medical supplies
from the country that vowed its
support.My Country!!!!If there is anything that came out of this documentary,one thing is
crystal clear to me.
Women/children's health care needs to be taken seriously ...Thank You Sheila McMahon
Perez, R.N.
2/14/07
Ablah Abdul Qadir
May Allah Peace and Blessing be upon Afghanistan and upon every Muslim family across the
world. Ameen first i would like to
say that i was deeply sadden to see that the sick could not get the proper care that they
needed due to the lack of supplies
from the American government. I feel that the American government should help. But we as
Muslims should do all that we can to
help rebuild the motherland Afghanistan. Insha Allah i will start today by trying to start
a donation program to get medical
supplies and other needed supplies to help the hospital there but i need to know where to
send these donations please let me
know where to send my donations. Also i think that Mrs Bush should know that her name is
posted and that womens and children
are dieing in her name. This is so sad. you don't have to be a Muslim to reach out to help
God creation. It just take some
caring about others. Thank you for reading my comment and keep Afghanistan in your prayer.
2/14/07
Eugene, OR
Dr. Qudrat Mojadidi is a deeply dedicated man trying to help women who have been
profoundly demoralized by decades of war and
poverty. He may feel that his efforts are only a "drop in the ocean," but every drop makes
ripples that can be felt around
the world. I hope he will have good health for a long time so he's able to continue to
offer such compassion to his fellow
human beings. Blessings on him, his supportive family and his future efforts in service to
improving the maternal and infant
health in Afghanistan, one mother/baby at a time.
2/14/07
Volcano, Hawaii
As usual the topic was something I would not see anywhere else, and perhaps the Doctors
Daughter has a future in film making
or journalism. I have strong opinions however that differ from those of Dr. Mojadidi. Like
many citizens of the USA, my
father too immigrated from another country. I too have revisited the family "motherland"
and witnessed its depression and
economic horrors and diseases. Never did I believe that a government agency funded by USA
taxpayers should be responsible to
go to the motherland to pay for supplies to right all wrongs. If we had health care in the
USA in all 50 states it would be
different. It is not a realistic request for all of USA's citizens to ask the govt for
monies to take back to their former
countries. I do think it is sad that so many within the USA face lack of health care,
health insurance, and availability of
certified hospitals, clinics and quality doctors. I love to think globally with my heart,
but let us keep the fiscal duties
within our own shores as a priority before we go to help others. Dr. Mojadidi's hobby is
clearly one of honor and should be
commended. Look to private sources for funding. Thank you for the insights into rural
Afghanistan, I have not been to that
country since 1971.
2/14/07
Cam Quach
Pasadena, California
I was deeply touched throughout the length of the documentary film. I think it is a
travesty that the Western world,
particularly U.S., has not done enough effort to alleviate the pains and sufferings of
these poor and improvised Afghani
women. Why do we (U.S.)focus so much on the military victory side and ignore the effects
of war and destruction on the
humanity of Afghan people? I truly wish that there is some practical way that I can help
these unfortunate people, would
someone tell me how!
Editors note:
For those individuals who'd like to make a difference empowering women and children in
Afghanistan, the filmmakers recommend
visiting the Web site of the Shuhada Organization to find out how to help. In the film,
Dr. Mojadidi brings his expertise to
a Shuhada hospital.
http://www.shuhada.org/
2/12/07
Brett Campbell
Arlington, MA
The subject matter of your productions is always of extreme importance and the topics
covered are virtually non-existent
anywhere else,in print or otherwise (with the exception of Democracy Now).I want to say
that I find it extremely refreshing,
concise and unobtrusive the way the camera and subsequent editing is used most tastefully
in your pieces, notably Motherland
Afghanistan. Very, very well done. Thank you for no quick cut edits, no ominous music, no
production "fingerprints". I
noticed a few very subtle things...very artful that contributed to the experience overall.
I loved the printed info/update
breaks. Please forgive my lack of tech-speak. I was moved by the sincerity,
professionalism and straight-forwardness of the
production. The subject matter, well, I was in tears the length of the piece. Thank you
for your time and I am so happy to
see quality work as yours finally on my PBS station, WGBH in Boston.
1/19/07
Shahid Raki
Dayton, Ohio
I would like to suggest to Dr. Mojadidi to contact Mrs. Laura Bush and ask her to come and
see the hospital that was named
after her or at least see the pictures that were shown on the promo on television today
and see what she has to say about the
faciltiy that was shown. I wonder if she would want her name to remain on it after seeing
the pictures.
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