Mian Muhammad Javed
It is 4.30 in the wee hours of morning Sh. Naseem Ahmed arrives in hospital on his daily visit when generally the medical staff on duty tends to be sleepy due to long nights on duty. He does not belief in surprise checks as everybody in hospital knows that he is well meaning and this is part of his routine to encourage staff to be vigilant at this critical hour when heart patients need maximum care. The scene is Gujranwala which is run by a Trust set up and managed by his family. For the second round he is back in his office at nine in the morning formally dressed for office business. In the evening one again finds him taking round of wards. So this is a 24 hour vigil.
In a city of two million people, Gujranwala really needs a cardiac hospital like Siddique Sadiq Hospital that could become a centre of emergency treatment also. It is a matter of pleasures that there are latest medical equipments available which include electro medical instruments, operation theatres, the angiography and other diagnostic equipment, and necessary paraphernalia for open heart surgery. There is a fully automated medical laboratory where clinical tests such as of blood needed for heart surgery can be carried out in minutes. Heart specialists and surgeons, some regular and some on call are on the roll of hospital for specialized care.
Apart from the cardiology there are other departments. At least 13 dialysis machines of latest model are operating in quarantine atmosphere serving the kidney patients. Latest digital x-ray machines are a great help to doctors. Digital X-Rays are easier to read and provide more accurate findings. Through email an X-Ray can be transmitted to radiologists anywhere in the world for opinion. Recently a memiographic machine has been added for early detection of breast cancer.
Being a Trust, the hospital provides treatment to poor patients either free of cost or at a nominal charges. Patients who need dialysis are treated free of cost. In the basement of the hospital space has been provided free to another Foundation run by a group of young doctors who screen and treat hepatitis patients, even dental care has been made available for poor patients.
Another Mian Rafique Anwar Memorial Hospital was also established and managed by a Trust conceived by Mian Rafique Anwar and other eminent citizens. The trust had been later chaired by late Aziz Zulfiqar a great philanthropist intellectual and writer. Specializing in gynaecology, the 200 bed hospital takes a load of the poor patients who otherwise cannot afford expensive treatments in clinics run on commercial basis. Prenatal and post natal medical care of high calibre is available for mothers and infants.
Haji Murad Trust Eye Hospital set up by Haji Murad who is known as an industrialist. It provides eye treatment to needy patients. The urge to serve humanity is quite contagious and those motivated are lucky to contribute something but it is only special few who achieve something in concrete.
Talking of retired army Generals in humanitarian activity one would like to make a mention of Al-Mustafa Trust Rawalpindi founded by Lt. Gen. G.M. Malik. The Trust has set up ten hospitals/clinics in remote parts of the country providing outdoor medical treatment to about 650 have notes everyday. In his office Malik has a daily routine which revolves around improving operation of the hospitals and finding ways and means to raise more donations. There are examples of a few but in other cities and towns of Pakistan you find such people working for a noble cause.
But question arises as to who are these people? They are also Pakistanis. As against those who profess to serve people but cost billions to the exchequer and whose main aim in life is to get fame, people like Naseem, Mian Rafique Anwar, Aziz Zulfiqar, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Jahandad Khan, Lt. Gen. (Retd) G.M. Malik and others spend and devote their energies constructively for a missionary cause without any desire of reward in this world.
Basically they are honest people and regardless of their status or wealth they lead simple life style with frugal habits. Usually integrity and trustworthiness is hallmark of their character.
They are pillars of a structure of our undiluted social values. They are men of faith, motivated solely by words of Allah: Not a liability on tax payers they have charged themselves with a mission to contribute rather than aspiring for something. No lesser mortals as compared to stalwarts like Abdul Sattar Edhi, Imran Khan and late Ganga Ram, spread in the length and breadth of the country these men of God look for resources and avenues of serving needy members of community and build institutions for the deprived. They are role models and bright examples for others. Ideally their examples need to be emulated, If not, then at least support be extended to their efforts in cash and kind.
The writer is former Chairman of PEMRA.