PEDIATRICS Vol. 15 No. 6 June 1955, pp. 771-774
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PUBLIC HEALTH, NURSING AND MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK

OBSERVATIONS ON THE CARE OF CHILDREN IN AFGHANISTAN

Charles U. Lowe M.D.

Editors: Myron E. Wegman, M.D..

Afghanistan is a country in south central Asia, approximately rectangular in shape, with an area estimated at 250,000 square miles. Its borders have been inadequately surveyed and many sections are as yet unvisited by foreigners. The Hindu Kush Mountains divide it roughly from northeast to southwest; they make surface transportation slow and difficult, and along with the desert areas of the southwest sector, reduce the tillable land to less than 20,000 square miles. In spite of this, Afghanistan raises more than enough food to feed its Population and has sufficient surplus to export. Its climate is hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, while rainfall is scarce, rarely averaging more than 11 inches Per year.

Racially, 5 ethnic groups make up its population. In the east, and along the Pakistan border, one finds the Pathans. These are tall, frequently fair individuals, claiming descent from both the Greek legions of Alexander and the ancient tribes of Israel. In a broad band running mainly along the Russian border and the Oxus River are the Turkmen, herdsmen and breeders of karakul sheep. South of these, and inhabiting the center of the country from Kabul to Meshed in Persia live the Hazaris, descendents from Genghis Kahn's slaughtering hordes.