Al-Shifa Trust News letter€¦ · Al-Shifa Newsletter; Vol. 24, Number 57, September 2013 Al-Shifa...

Al-Shifa Newsletter; Vol. 24, Number 57, September 2013

Al-Shifa Trust News letter


INSIDE

• Board of Trustees take landmark decisions on AST future strategic plan

• Al-Shifa achieves another landmark – Masters in Public Health Program (MSPH) launched

• Moving towards Regions First Children Eye Hospital

• Al-Shifa starts first ever screening program for prevention of infant blindness in the country

• Italian Ambassador visits Al-Shifa Teleophthalmology project

• Al-Shifa clinches best paper award in SAARC Conference

• AST Eye Hospital Muzaffarabad stepping towards excellence

• PIO students grab top positions in University

• Doctors from Bangladesh join AST for advanced training

• Al-Shifa Center for Community Ophthalmology continues its activities on war footing

• Work on Al-Shifa Commercial Tower started

• Successful Fundraiser hosted at Marriott Islamabad

• Staff News

• Young Friends of Al-Shifa set new trends for social work

• Patient Column

• Appeal


Board of Trustees take landmark decisions on AST future strategic plan

Recently held meeting of Board of Trustees, Al-Shifa Trust made some landmark

decisions for future strategic direction of Al-Shifa. Chaired by Mr. Hamid Javaid,

President of Trust, following important decisions were made: -

1. As a first step towards establishing, Al-Shifa University of Medical and

Ophthalmic Sciences (ASUMOS), ASTEH Rawalpindi was given a go

ahead to start Master of Sciences in Public Health Program. (See details in

the following pages).

2. As a first step towards establishing an independent Children Eye Hospital,

BoT expressed its satisfaction over expansion of existing department of

Pediatric Ophthalmology at ASTEH Rawalpindi. (See details in the

following pages)

3. The BoT agreed to expedite the construction of Al-Shifa Commercial

Tower.

4. BoT also approved increase in the salary package of its employees.

5. The BoT also approved new members of Board of Trustees. These include

Mr. Abdullah Yusuf, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Rehmat Khan, Justice Mansoor

Ahmed and Ms Samia Abbas.


.


Al-Shifa achieves another landmark – Masters in Public Health Program (MSPH) launched

After the approval by Quaid-e-Azam University, ASTEH has now started Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) program. It is a two years post graduate degree program intended for doctors, pharmacists, optometrists, nurses and social scientists etc.. The focus of this program is to produce highly skilled public health professionals who endeavor to improve the health and quality of life of the people through prevention of diseases, surveillance of communicable and non-communicable diseases, monitoring and evaluation of health projects, and the promotion of healthy behaviors.

Dr. Zahid Butt has been appointed as head of department. An Agha Khan University graduate, he has completed his doctorate in epidemiology from Michigan State University of USA. He brings with him good experience of running this program at Health Services Academy Islamabad. The faculty also includes two assistant professors and two tutors along with independent administrative support.


The first batch consisting of 18 students has been enrolled and regular classes have already started.

Mrs. Amna Khawar, Director Programs Al-Shifa Trust deserves special kudos for her tireless and dedicated efforts in launching this program on time.

Moving towards Regions First Children Eye Hospital

AST Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has one of the most advanced departments of pediatric ophthalmology in the country. With nine pediatric ophthalmologists and latest surgical and diagnostic equipment, the patient demand is huge from all over Pakistan. A comprehensive plan has been approved by Board of Trustees. As a first phase of this plan, the existing department of pediatric ophthalmology has been expanded, refurbished and further equipped with modern children eye care paraphernalia. In addition, more highly qualified doctors have also joined the department. Dr. Syed Asad Ali, who has nine years practical experience of teaching, training and research in leading pediatric ophthalmology centers of UK, has recently joined the department. He is an old alumnus of Al-Shifa Trust. Dr. Sorath Noorani Siddiqui, who is heading the department has recently returned


after completing her specialized training in ophthalmic genetics from Canada in world famous McGill University. Her training was supported by Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia.

It is expected that this expansion will increase the capacity of the department twofold and reduce the patient waiting time by one half by the middle of next year.

Different views of newly constructed children eye department at ASTEH Rawalpindi

Al-Shifa starts first ever screening program for prevention and treatment of infant blindness in the country

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is an important cause of infant blindness in developed countries. As more and more premature and extremely low birth


weight babies are surviving due to availability of advanced neonatal care, increasing number of these are in need for neonatal screening for presence of premature retina which if not treated in time can lead to infant blindness. ROP is now emerging as important cause of blindness in the developing world as well. For the first time in the country, AST Eye Hospital Rawalpindi recently started providing retinopathy of prematurity screening service. Since March 2013 Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has conducted ROP screening at neonatal units of major hospitals of the city.

Dr. Asad applying laser to a young infant with ROP


Italian Ambassador visits Al-Shifa Teleophthalmology project

Under Pak Italian Debt Swap Arrangement, Govt of Italy has supported a three year project to establish and promote telemedicine for prevention and control of blindness in Pakistan. Under this project, Tele-Ophthalmology linkages and equipment have been established at all the four Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals of the country. Recently, Ambassador of Italy visited AST Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi to personally see the progress of the project. His Excellency Adriano Nails Cianfarani was taken around the hospital as well as to main Teleophthalmology establishment. The Teleophthalmology Hall at ASTEH Rawalpindi has been dedicated to PIDSA.

HE Mr. Adriano Nails Cianfarani Ambassador of Italy at Teleophtahlmology Hall along with Mr. Nasir Ali Khan


Al-Shifa clinches best paper award in SAARC Conference

Al-Shifa Trust made major contribution to recently held SAARC supported 16th Islamabad Congress of Ophthalmology at Bhurban Murree. Over 350 scientific research papers were presented at the conference by speakers from Pakistan and different parts of the world, like Argentina, UK and India. With over 1500 delegates, this was one of the largest national eye conferences. Delegates from Al-Shifa Trust presented 37 research papers. Dr. Hassan Mansoor from Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi was given the Residents Best Paper Award for his research paper on eye cancer. Readers will be interested to note that Hassan is grandson of late Gen. Jahan Dad Khan.

AST Eye Hospital Muzaffarabad stepping towards excellence

ASTEH Muzaffarabad is the latest of the Al-Shifa Trust eye hospitals. Within a short span, it has grown quite competitive, while attracting patients from all over Kashmir and adjoining Hazara belt. With an excellent building in a beautiful scenic background, it provides some of the diagnostic and surgical facilities which were previously not available in entire region. Latest cataract surgical treatment of phacoemulsification and YAG laser as well as latest treatment for diabetic eye disease- Argon Laser is now available in this hospital. We have also a capable team of surgeons who have completed their earlier specialist training at ASTEH Rawalpindi. These include Dr. Waqaruddin Durrani and Dr. Raheela Waqar.


ASTEH Muzaffarabad is also proud of being the first hospital of this area to conduct mass school screening of children. With second year of screening supported by Fred Hollows Australia in progress, over 20,000 children have been screened. Currently the construction of modern accommodation facilities for the staff is being carried out at a fast pace.

Under construction building for hostel at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital (ASTEH) MZD


ASTEH MZD conducts Screening of Children in Mountainous and Inaccessible areas of Kashmir

PIO students grab top positions in University

• The standard of training at PIO can be judged from the fact, that every year our students secure top positions in University of Health Sciences. This year Mr. Abuzar Ghaffari and Shamsa Sarwar got first positions in their respective professional examinations. They were also awarded with cash prizes by President Al-Shifa. Congratulations!

• We congratulate Dr. Mehmood Ali, Assistant Professor, Department of

Glaucoma and Dr. Sarah Zafar Assistant Professor, Department of Retina for


their outstanding successes achieved recently. Dr. Sarah got FRCS and MRCOphth while Dr. Mehmood passed his FRCS. In addition he also completed his one year fellowship training in Glaucoma under the able guidance of Prof. Dr Farah Akhter.

• Three doctors from PIO passed DOMS with flying colors. Congratulations Dr.

Tahira, Dr. Nadia Amin & Dr. Muhammad Iqbal. Best of Luck! • A round of applause to the students and faculty of the NAVTEC sponsored

programs for Ophthalmic Nursing Assistant and Refractionists for scoring 100% result.

• Licensed Practising Nurse (LPN) Program is also making excellent progress under the dynamic guidance of its supervisor Ms Shahida Zarina. The current batch of LPN also achieved 100% result.

President AST and Dean PIO with LPN Faculty and Students


Doctors from Bangladesh join AST for advanced training

Under an MoU, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi has reserved slots for advanced training of ophthalmologists from the premier national institution of Bangladesh- National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, Dhaka (NIO&H). Recently three ophthalmologists from Bangladesh have joined us for advanced one year training in subspecialty of vitreo-retina and orbit/oculoplastics. They are Dr. Shahidul Islam (Viteo-Retina) & Dr. Arif Hayat Khan Pathan (Vitreo-Retina) and Dr. Azizur Rahman Alam (Orbit/Oculoplastics).

Dr. Pathan, Dr. Alam and Dr. Islam from Bangladesh

Al-Shifa Center for Community Ophthalmology (ACCO) reaching hard areas- also moves to new premises

Al-Shifa Center for Community Ophthalmology has been providing quality eye care at the door step of patients from rural and marginalized communities. This quarter, despite the hot summer sun and holy month of Ramadan, AST outreach team successfully held 39 screening camps in rural areas of Punjab and Azad Kashmir screening about nine thousand patients. About four thousand vision glasses were dispensed to deserving patients. These areas have acute shortage of such care and the community at large has requested our outreach team to regularly visit these areas to cater for their eye health needs.


ACCO shifted to new premises at ASTEH Rawalpindi


Work on Al-Shifa Tower started

An architect view of Al-Shifa Tower

A mega project for self-sustenance, Al-Shifa Towers is finally becoming a reality. After hitting initial technical and bureaucratic snags for couple of years, the work on the project has now been set in motion. The phase I will see construction of Tower One which will be of minimum six storey and will have all the modern provisions for offices, residences, health care facilities etc.

Successful Fundraiser hosted at Marriott Islamabad

Recently a fundraiser was held in Islamabad by Al-Shifa Trust. It was a very well attended gathering. People from all walks of life including philanthropists, ambassadors, social icons and members of civil society were there to watch the progress made by AST over the years under the able guidance of its President Mr. Hamid Javaid and his team. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hamid Javaid thanked the donors and friends of AST for their valuable contribution due to which AST now ranks as the leading eye care institute of the region. Prof. Wajid Ali Khan informed the audience about the progress made in the field of specialized eye care, training and research which has made great impact on the regional efforts at


prevention and control of blindness. The function raised a substantial amount of donations for the noble cause. A sumptuous dinner arranged by one of the Trustees, Mr. Mahfooz was followed by a lively music show by Ms Sanam Marvi.


Staff News

• Mr. Irfan Ali has been a key member of finance team of Al-Shifa Trust. Setting an example of consistent hard work, efficient financial management and team work, he has recently been promoted as General Manager Finance. Congratulations.


• We offer condolences to the family of Mr. Rizwan, a young energetic Operating Room Assistant who lost his life in a tragic domestic accident. His family has been provided with due compensation under AST Life Insurance scheme.

Young Friends of Al-Shifa set new trends for social work This year a huge number of students from leading institutions under the umbrella of Young Friends of Al Shifa participated in the social work program. Keeping in mind their motto “Hand in Hand, Youth Shall Rise” they provided services in different sectors including the outreach program, labs, clinics, wards and fund raising. “I cherish my moments at Al Shifa and would like to continue my contributions towards YFA Program” a Japanese Young Friend of Al-Shifa, Ms. Saito commented.


Patient Column

From Darkness to Light As mentioned earlier, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) can make a child blind for ever if not treated in time. As the AST started ROP screening for the first time in country, many examples came to the surface where thanks to timely intervention by Al-Shifa team, the journey from darkness to light started right inside the neonatal care units. A baby boy who was born 10 weeks premature and weighed only 980 grams, was identified to have ROP and immediately underwent laser therapy. This screening and treatment at right time saved baby’s vision. Without this timely treatment this child could have gone blind for the rest of her life. Similarly a set of quadruplets was screened for ROP and one of these was in need of treatment. Again she was treated timely and thus saving her vision.

I am not disabled, just visually challenged

Aila (not her real name), a 9 years cute girl came to department of oculoplastics for

treatment of her left eye which was lost due to multiple unsuccessful operations

elsewhere. By any standard, she was “blind”. She had only one functioning eye

and that too was too small in size (microphthalmos). We could hardly believe that


she can see through it. It was a miracle, that with this anatomy, and without any

special device, she could see and continue to study in Grade IV. Her “seeing” eye

could not be further improved by any treatment and we could offer only a cosmetic

replacement of her blind eye. We could not do anything for her, but she taught us

how to live with dignity and confidence against heavy odds. Declining to depart

with her non-functioning eye, she said “I am content with what I have, I am not

disabled, and I have the courage to face this visual challenge.” Thank you Aila.

God helps those who helps themselves!


Month

HOSPITAL AND OUT REACH PERFORMANCE

Out patients Inpatients/ Operations

Rawalpindi Sukkur Kohat Muzaffarabad Rawalpindi Sukkur Kohat Muzaffarabad

July 5856 2505 2287 3647 886 154 103 31

August 6530 4290 1884 3405 822 558 176 43

September 8955 4291 3232 2957 1306 336 394 59

TOTAL 21,341 11,086 7,403 10,009 3,014 1,048 673 133

GRAND TOTAL

49,839

4868


APPEAL Al-Shifa NEEDS Your Support to HELP Restoring Sights Al-Shifa is a Not-for Profit and Non-Political organization. It is committed to providing eye care and treatment mainly to the underprivileged and poor. Almost 75% of all patients attending Al-Shifa Eye Hospital are treated free. The trust is able to meet only 30-40% of its expenses from its own sources while the remaining expenses are met through Zakat, Donations and Support from Philanthropist. Your contribution means the gift of sight for someone in need! Kindly note that your Zakat donations go separately to the accounts which are dedicated for treatment of Zakat patients only. Kindly send your donations or Zakat to following Account Numbers:- In Pakistan

a) Send cheques in the name of “Al-Shifa Trust” at following address Contribution at office:-

“Executive Director Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi”.

b) Deposit your cash/cheques in any of the following bank accounts of Al-Shifa Trust on online basis from any branch of respective bank in Pakistan:-

Direct/ Online Deposit in Bank Accounts:-

Sr. # Bank Name Branch/ Address A/c Title A/c No. 1 Askari Commercial

Bank Ltd Al-Shifa Branch, Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi

Al-Shifa Trust

0181-165000058-5

2 MCB Bank Ltd Morgah Branch, Morgah Turn, Rawalpindi

Al-Shifa Trust

1389-0701000008-7

3 National Bank of Pakistan

Corporate Branch, Bank Road, Saddar, Rawalpindi

Al-Shifa Trust 1858-18-5

4 United Bank Ltd Cantt Branch, Bank Road, Saddar, Rawalpindi

Al-Shifa Trust

0041-011-0228-4

5 Allied Bank Ltd DHA Phase -1, Rawalpindi. Al-Shifa Trust

0010-006490890016

6 Habib Bank Ltd Bahria Town Branch, Commercial Sub Center, DHA Bussiness Bay, Block -8, Sector F, Islamabad

Al-Shifa Trust

2301-79005569-01

7 Bank Al-Falah Ltd The Mall Road Al-Shifa Trust

0007-02906752

Al-Shifa Newsletter; Vol. 24, Number 57, September 2013 c)

Account holders of MCB Bank Ltd can donate through mobile banking as well using “Quick Pay” option.

Mobile Donation:-

d) Donors within Rawalpindi/Islamabad may call Al-Shifa Trust at 051-5487820-5 Ext: 245 or send email at

Collection from Home/ office:-

[email protected] with your contact and complete address for collection of your generous donation/zakat from your home/office.

Note: In Pakistan, all donations to Al-Shifa Trust are exempt from Income Tax vide ”Clause 61 (X) of Part-I of Second Schedule of Income Tax Ordinance 2001”. In UK

a) Deposit your cash / cheques in any of the following bank accounts of Al-Shifa Trust on online basis from any branch of respective bank in UK:-


Sr. # Bank Name Branch/ Address A/c Title A/c No.

1 Habib Bank AG Zurich

5/7 High Street Southall, Middlesex UB 1 3HA, UK

Al-Shifa Trust

7-2-7-20311-402-109356 (Pound Sterling A/c)

2 Habib Bank AG Zurich

5/7 High Street Southall, Middlesex UB 1 3HA, UK

Al-Shifa Trust

7-2-7-20311-333-109356 (US Dollar A/c)

3 HSBC Bank Auchin Leck House, Birmingham

Al-Shifa Trust 40-1108-41311565

Note: In U.K., you can get Tax Exemption if your cheques are made payable to Al-Shifa Trust, Our Charity Number is 1077363 In USA

a) Deposit your cash / cheques in following bank account of Al Shifa Foundation for North America on online basis from any branch of this bank in USA:-


Sr. #

Bank Name Branch/ Address A/c Title A/c No.

1 National Bank of Pakistan

100 Wall Street, 21st Floor New York, NY 10005

Al-Shifa Trust

52152578

b) Send cheques in the name of “Al Shifa Foundation of North America (AFNA)” at following address:

Contribution at office:-

Al-Shifa Foundation of North America: 474 Wall Street, Princeton, NJ 08540. Tel: (609)279-1400, email: [email protected] website: www.afnausa.org. c) Contribution through PayPal:-

mailto:[email protected]�


http://www.afnausa.org/�


For donors outside the country especially UK and USA provision for online donations through Paypal is also available now.

Note: In USA, you can get Tax Exemption if your cheques are made payable to AFNA (Al-Shifa Foundation of North America). AFNA has been granted not-for-profit status under section 501(c) (3) status of the Internal Revenue Service Code Tax ID No: 36-4328912 (For use of US Residents Only) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Tel: 0092 51 5487820-25, Fax: 0092 51 5487827 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Railway Road, Sukkur, Pakistan Tel: 0092 71 5612766, 0092 71 5615466 Fax: 0092 71 5613453 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, KDA, Kohat, Pakistan Tel: 0092 922 515686, 0092 922 515710: Fax: 0092 922 515668 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Ambore Camp, Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Tel: 0092 5822432159, 0092 5822432144, Fax: 0092 51 5487827 Email: [email protected], [email protected]





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