Launching 2025 with a Life-Changing Surgical Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan
Swisscross Founder and Chairman, Dr Enrique Steiger in the OR at Maiwand Teaching Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan. April, 2025.
In April 2025, Swisscross Foundation completed its first humanitarian surgical mission of the year in Kabul, Afghanistan. Over the course of eight days, our international medical team partnered closely with local professionals at Maiwand Teaching Hospital, bringing specialized care to patients.
A Mission of Hope and Healing
The mission included a dedicated screening day where our volunteer global Medical Corp worked closely with local staff to diagnose and set a course of treatment for patients in urgent need of reconstructive surgery. Our surgical team went on to perform 20 life-changing surgeries.
Of the patients treated, 11 were children under 18 years-old and 8 were female patients, highlighting Swisscross’ ongoing commitment to ensuring that some of the most vulnerable patients — who can face additional barriers to care — have equal access to high-quality, specialized surgery.
One of the youngest and bravest patients was two-year-old Suliaman, who required skin grafts and a Z-plasty procedure to treat serious burn injuries. His story is just one example of how early surgical intervention can dramatically change a child’s future, allowing them to heal physically and regain mobility, confidence, and dignity.
Burn trauma among children is one of the most common injuries our teams come across in conflict settings. Maiwand Teaching Hospital, April, 2025.
Working Together for Sustainable Impact
A key focus of the mission was collaboration with Afghan medical teams. Swisscross’ specialists worked hand-in-hand with local surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and nursing staff, sharing expertise, building trust, and strengthening local surgical capacity. By investing in local partnerships, we aim to leave a lasting impact far beyond any single mission.
Operating in Afghanistan is precisely the kind of environment where the need is great, and where Swisscross' commitment to reconstructive humanitarian surgery can be most transformative.
Local medical experts at Maiwand Hospital working closely with the Swisscross team in Kabul, Afghanistan. April, 2025.
A New Beginning for 2025
This mission marks an important milestone for Swisscross Foundation. As we step into 2025, we are energized by the resilience of the communities we serve and reaffirmed in our belief that access to surgery is a fundamental human right.
Each mission is not just about the number of surgeries performed — it is about restoring lives, building local capacity, and creating hope where it is needed most.
We are grateful to our dedicated team of volunteers, our local partners at Maiwand Teaching Hospital, and our generous supporters who make these missions possible. Together, we are not only healing patients — we are helping to rebuild futures.
Follow Swisscross to stay updated on our next missions, stories from the field, and ways you can support our work.
