An orthopedic surgeon from Dubai, who recently returned from Afghanistan after evaluating the medical requirements in earthquake-stricken areas, is preparing to train Afghan doctors in trauma and orthopedic care.
Dr. Azam Badar Khan, also known as Dr. Knee, announced that the forthcoming initiative aims to enhance Afghanistan’s medical capabilities by educating local doctors on managing complex bone and joint injuries, especially those resulting from natural disasters.
“We conducted a comprehensive study and survey in the earthquake-affected regions, identifying significant gaps in the healthcare infrastructure,” Dr. Khan explained. “The situation is tragic; many people have lost not just their homes but also their mobility. Our mission is to empower doctors with the knowledge and resources needed to treat their own people.”
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The training will be a collaborative effort between his initiative, ‘Let’s Walk Again Foundation’, and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Health, with support from local humanitarian organizations. According to Dr. Knee, the program will feature on-site workshops and telemedical sessions focused on fracture management, post-trauma rehabilitation, and knee reconstruction techniques.
“Rather than providing temporary relief, we aim to establish a sustainable model,” he noted. “If every Afghan doctor can restore mobility to even one patient, the ripple effect can heal a nation.”
Dr. Khan has worked at several hospitals, including Rashid, Prime, Medcare, NMC, and International Modern Hospital, and is renowned for pioneering robotic-assisted and minimally invasive knee surgeries that allow patients to walk shortly after the procedure. He believes that technology and compassion should work in tandem.
“Healthcare should never be a privilege; it’s a human right,” he stated. “If the heart sustains life, the knee enhances its quality. Through education, we can rebuild hope, step by step.”
The surgeon has gained recognition for launching the upcoming ‘Let’s Walk Again with Dr. Knee’ campaign, a global initiative for knee health that will debut in Dubai next year. The event will bring together thousands of residents, doctors, and rehabilitation specialists to promote awareness about joint health and mobility disorders.
“Through Let’s Walk Again, we are telling the world that movement is life,” Dr. Knee said. “Helping someone walk again, whether in Dubai, Somalia, or Afghanistan, returns their independence and dignity.”
His humanitarian efforts span continents, from conducting free knee replacement camps at 11,000 feet in Kargil, India, to performing Somalia’s first total knee replacement surgery in 2021, and leading missions to disaster zones in Africa and South Asia.
“Every mission teaches me something new,” he reflected. “In Afghanistan, I witnessed doctors working with limited supplies but endless dedication. With the right training, they can transform orthopedic care for future generations.”
Dr. Khan mentioned that discussions with Afghan officials are ongoing to formalize the collaboration by early 2026. “Our aim is to start in earthquake-affected provinces and eventually expand to other regions,” he added. “We are not only treating knees; we are restoring hope, rebuilding lives, and helping communities stand tall again.”
