In 1978, the government learned that a new IAM Team Member had a doctorate in Chemical Analysis. They requested that she join the government department responsible for the testing and acceptance of drugs into the country. Since then, she has worked closely with the Ministry of Health Pharmaceuticals control Laboratory to obtain the necessary equipment and training for the staff to perform this vital function. With the massive number of drugs entering the country from India, Pakistan, and Iran, plus from the internal manufacturing of medicines, it is important to protect the citizens (and save them money) from the purchase of poor or bad quality or even dangerous medicine. In the early 90’s the offices of many government ministries were looted and destroyed, including the expensive equipment used in the chemical analysis of drugs. During those unstable years, and on into the years of the Taliban, this department was non-functional. However, in 2002, the newly formed government asked that this same IAM Team Member be reassigned to their laboratory to help them rebuild the laboratory, update the skills of some of the previous workers, and train new workers. With her help, new equipment has been purchased and the task of evaluating medicines has restarted. |
