My life as a frontline doctor in Afghanistan

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Dr Marzia Salam Yaftali works at the Kunduz Regional Hospital in Afghanistan, where she is Chief Physician, the only woman to hold the position in the country. Since the Taliban were forced out of Kunduz in 2001, they have fought a long and violent campaign against government forces in the city to regain control. Kunduz has been caught in the crossfire, and only one hospital remains open. Marzia cares for patients in incredibly difficult circumstances, and has survived a mortar attack on the hospital, and delivered a set of twins in a tank. Outlook first spoke to Marzia in 2017, and she was a nominee at the BBC Inspirations Awards the following year. Despite the postponement of this year’s awards - and remember, we are no longer accepting nominations - Outlook’s Emily Webb recently revisited Marzia’s story and caught up with her to hear how she continues to provide treatment in the city against the odds. Hans and Nancy Benning met in Germany while studying the art of lutherie-repairing stringed instruments. Their love and work gave Hans the happiness he longed for growing up homeless and malnourished in West Germany during World War 2. Now living in California, they have been making and preserving the world’s most priceless violins for four decades. Picture: Dr Marzia Salam Yaftali and colleagues at the Kunduz Regional Hospital Credit: courtesy Dr Marzia Salam Yaftali