In the way of Allah

By Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah

“We cannot let him die like this!” implored the young house officer in CCU of Khyber Hospital. It must be early 1985 - twenty four years ago, and Cardiology department had recently shifted from Khyber Teaching Hospital to Lady Reading Hospital.

I was asked to see a patient in CCU, who had an illness called 'complete heart block'.

He was experiencing frequent episodes; his heart would stop beating and he would lose consciousness.

The rule in CCU was not to put a temporary pacemaker, till there was a firm commitment from the family to foot the bill for permanent pacemaker - costing around Rs19000 at that time. 

Pacemaker is a small computer-based battery, implanted under skin below collar bone, which senses heart beats and in the absence of a heart beat stimulates heart by an electric stimulation via a wire lying in right pumping chamber of heart.

Before permanent pacemaker, as is evident by the name, a temporary pacemaker is implanted which works from outside. Once temporary pacemaker is implanted and rhythm restored, turning off tantamount to killing.

We took upon ourselves to raise some fund for this particular patient and many more patients like him, who could not afford the cost of a pacemaker. 

I was new in the city and hardly knew anyone.  I started from Lion's and Rotary clubs, and then contacted other people as suggested by them.

I would ring up, introduce myself as Senior Registrar of Cardiology and state the purpose without mentioning my name.

The response was most gratifying! Within a week, I collected money which could buy three pacemakers. The best part was that almost all came to the hospital to donate money and most wanted to stay anonymous.

Lion's club, headed by Haji Noor Muhammad, donated a pacemaker. Madame Zakia Minhas donated Rs50,000 towards this fund.

And this started a 'mission' which never looked back. We were most impressed by the extraordinary response we received.

And in the last two and a half decades, not even a single person has been denied a pacemaker, who could not afford it.

This fund has saved and provided 'the spark of life' to hundreds of families! Many of the beating hearts in Peshawar, NWFP, FATA and even Afghanistan owe their 'stimulation' to these pacemakers.

Two names need special mention when it comes to pacemakers and saving lives.

Prof Amjad Hussain Zaidi, a son of the soil and cardiothoracic surgeon from Ohio USA and a house hold name in Peshawar, made special efforts to bring newer models of sophisticated pacemakers in dozens year after year.

This he continued to do for more than a decade.

Dr Naeem Khan, a graduate of Khyber Medical College, has been born with a heart made of gold which can feel the ache of poverty.

Aware of the problems faced by the underprivileged, he has been donating dozens of pacemakers for free implantation.

May Allah Subhanu Taala bless them and their families for keeping the candles of lives burning in hundreds of hearts.

Their enthusiasm and love for the poor is not merely confined to pacemakers, they have been instrumental in donating different hardware worth millions for the poor.

During golden Jubilee celebrations of Khyber Medical College, the following graduates were offered special recognition: Dr Arshad Rehan, Dr Nazimuddin Azam Khan, Dr Ovais Raza, Dr Mian Arshad Jan, Dr Pir Wajid Ali Shah,  Dr Asim and Dr Yasir Siraj. They have proved themselves to be the pride of the province and have been instrumental in bringing millions of dollars worth of equipment for heart patients. APCNA - Association of Pakistani Cardiologist of North America, made us proud by holding their annual function in Peshawar in 2007.

Their members through Dr Naeem Khan and Dr Arshad Rehan have been very generously helping cardiology department with hardware for offering free services to the poor.

As Chief Executive of Lady Reading Hospital, we formed an informal association by the name of 'Friends of Lady Reading Hospital'.

Our first meeting was at Lady Reading Hospital and the next was hosted by the then general manager of Pearl Continental hotel - Arjumand.

The support, we received, was tremendous! On the first day we collected more than a million and the people over there promised a lot more.

Only one question took the steam out of our enthusiastic mission, "we are willing to support all your efforts but can you ensure that these efforts continue as an institution and do not die away after you leave this office?" 

As friends of Lady Reading Hospital, the gentlemen had offered generous lifelong commitments; the weakness was on our part! Unfortunately most things in our set up revolve around individuals and are not institution based!

We started a free pharmacy for the poor in our Outpatient department.

Zakia Minhas contributed the first lakh and my better half the next.

Our revered friend and elder Paracha donated similar amount and we bought Insulin for diabetic patients.

Similar amounts were donated by Jamsheed Sawal, Abdul Karim Jan, Sabir Ali Shah and Syed Zahid Hussain from KARCON.

Prof Nasiruddin Azam Khan chipped in whenever I required any help.

Prof Shafique donated wheel chairs and stretchers worth the same amount of money.

Bryon pharmaceutical, owned by local industrialists Amjad Hussain and Haroon, offered to boost the stores of the pharmacy by offering regular generous donation from their factory.

Money kept pouring in - same Bryon Pharmaceutical donated hundred and fifty drums for the cleanliness and CCL pharma donated hundreds of flower pots and glass panes with Ayat written on it to beautify the hospital.

Highnoon pharmaceutical funded a beautiful garden with multiple fountains behind Bolton block.

Muslim Commercial Bank was kind enough to sponsor two beautiful large-sized fountains, which changed the ecology, of outpatient department.

The basement, which was filled by old beds and discarded items, now boasts of beautiful projectile fountains with meticulously planted greenery around it.

Mass Pharmaceutical volunteered to put specially designed sign boards and scores of chairs in the outpatient department.

That changed the outlook and enhanced comfort of patients and their relatives.

Khyber Bank offered special signage of Cardio and Neuro block.