More than 18 years of conflict has torn up Afghanistan, creating widespread poverty as well as fueling staggering inequality and a sense of powerlessness. The UN estimates some 100,000 casualties among its civilians over the last decade and the number of internally displaced people at over 1 million.

For An Na, who was the only Chinese doctor working in the biggest hospital in Afghanistan, this Central Asian country is like her second home – in the past five years, she's been to the country four times. "The need is there. Its health system is very fragile after many years of war. We need to support the people there."