Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean visits staff and patients at the Role 3 Hospital at Kandahar Airfield on Wednesday. (Bill Graveland/Canadian Press)

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean has wrapped up a two-day whirlwind tour of Afghanistan, where she's encouraging Canadian soldiers to stay the course in helping better the lives of the Afghan people.

Jean, titular commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, says she's saddened that there is any debate at all over whether Canada should be helping the country's less fortunate.

She says the suggestion it's a 'lost cause' hurts her deeply.

Jean was moved to tears on a number of occasions, most notably when visiting the war memorial at Kandahar Airfield and when she talked to a nine-year-old Afghan girl who lost a leg in a bomb blast.

During her visit, which was kept secret for security reasons, she told soldiers the good work they are doing in Afghanistan would not be forgotten.

Jean said it's important that Canadians understand the value of the work both the military and civilians are doing.