The French Medical Institute of Children (FMIC) is the subject of a new book, A Place of Miracles: The Story of a Children’s Hospital in Kabul and the People Whose Lives Have Been Changed by It, by Lee Hilling. The FMIC is the result of an innovative four-way public-private partnership between two governments – the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and France – and two private, non-governmental organizations – the Aga Khan Development Network and the France-based humanitarian entity, La Chaine de l'Espoir. Mr. Hilling has been Chairman of FMIC’s governing body since 2006.

 

The Aga Khan Council for the Northeastern United States, in partnership with the Consulate General of France in New York, inaugurated the US tour of Lee Hilling’s  book in July 2017, at the French Consulate in New York. Ambassadors of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Canada, India, Portugal and Tajikistan, representatives from the Consul General of France, and New York City, and State representatives attended the event. Jamati Institutional leaders, including President Barkat Fazal, President of the Aga Khan Council for the USA, were in attendance, together, with 100 other guests.

 

A “true success story, in itself a remarkable source of inspiration," is how Mr. Bertrand Lortholary, the Consul General of France, described the FMIC. He added that is “Mr. Hilling's personal and professional perspective that makes this a book that can be appreciated by a wide audience. Indeed, it was his choice to make it about the people whose lives have been changed by FMIC, to meet children and their parents in their homes, and to let them tell their stories in their own words--- which turned a success story into what I am not the only one to describe, as an incredibly uplifting reading experience.”

 

Mr. Shajahan Merchant, President of the Aga Khan Council for the Northeastern United States, highlighted the importance of the cosmopolitan ethic as being exemplified by Mr. Hilling and the FMIC. Mr. Hilling then spoke about the genesis of FMIC, and as a successful public-private partnership, highlighting three stories of children who have been directly impacted by the innovative work and dedicated staff there.

 

One story, in particular, touched the guests. Neha, the smallest child to be treated at FMIC, weighed less than 2 pounds after an emergency C-section at a different public hospital. After being turned away from treatment at two other private hospitals, her frantic father arrived with Neha at the FMIC where she was placed in an incubator at FMIC’s ICU with a highly uncertain prognosis. Neha’s care required a delicate balance of treatment, with highly trained Afghan staff, and with well-maintained and functional equipment. She slowly responded to care and eventually began to thrive. She remained in the hospital for 71 days and was discharged with the expectation that she would have a normal life.

 

Following the talk, Mr. Hilling participated in a discussion with Mr. Paul Nahon, a French journalist who founded Envoyé spécial, a popular French TV program providing international and investigative reporting.  The discussion was followed by questions from the audience on the success and challenges of FMIC.

 

Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations, closed the event by offering a vote of thanks to the FMIC on behalf of the people of Afghanistan, as well as his personal appreciation from firsthand experience of how his own life has been impacted by FMIC.

 

The event concluded with a reception and a book signing by the author.