STORY: Mental illnesses a common problem among Afghans as legacy of war
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 5, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:05
LOCATION: Kabul
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of street views in Afghanistan
2. various of Sehat-e-Rawani Hospital and patients suffering from mental illnesses doing rehabilitation activities
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN, Patient and former U.S. forces interpreter in Afghanistan
4. various of Sehat-e-Rawani Hospital and patients suffering from mental illnesses doing rehabilitation activities
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN, Patient and former U.S. forces interpreter in Afghanistan
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): MOHAMMAD SHAFI AZIM, Chief of Psychiatric Department, Sehat-e-Rawani Hospital
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): KHAWAJA QUDRATULLAH SEDIQI, Neurologist
8. various of Afghan refugees

STORYLINE:

Mohammad Hussain was an interpreter for the U.S. forces in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2012.

He said that the outcome of his joining the war has been nothing more than sorrow and depression.

He now suffers from war-related mental illnesses.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN, Patient and former U.S. forces interpreter in Afghanistan
"Every moment when we went into the (battle) tank, every moment we went to the mission, we felt scared, and felt as if we were going to die."

Hussain received a six-month medical treatment from the U.S. troops, but fell ill again when he remembered his past and what he saw during the missions with the U.S. troops.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN, Patient and former U.S. forces interpreter in Afghanistan
"I told them (U.S. troops) I could not work anymore. They said, 'No, you don't have any problem. You just get depression.' I remember all my past. I cannot forget."

Mohammad Shafi Azim had worked as a doctor during the foreign forces' presence in Afghanistan.

As the chief of the psychiatric department of the Sehat-e-Rawani Hospital, he said the prolonged war had brought Afghans a variety of problems including mental diseases.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): MOHAMMAD SHAFI AZIM, Chief of Psychiatric Department, Sehat-e-Rawani Hospital
"A prolonged war, security problems, the unpleasant sound of ammunition, rocket attacks, and a small or big fight can cause mental problems for a child or a teenager or an adult who lives in a community located in a war zone."

Doctors at the hospital also said that despite the end of the war, many still suffer from the pains left by it.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Dari): KHAWAJA QUDRATULLAH SEDIQI, Neurologist
"Even though the war has ended, the consequences, such as economic difficulties, unemployment, and many other problems, remain in the society and continue to haunt the victims."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kabul.
(XHTV)