Members of the public are invited to attend the annual general meeting of The Hashim Welfare Hospital Appeal and bring themselves up-to-date on both the progress of improving healthcare for the impoverished community in north Pakistan and the follow up work after the 2005 earthquake.

The AGM will begin promptly at 3pm on Sunday, 1st July, 2007 and is being held in the Post-Graduate Education Centre, near the Duchess of Kent Wing, St. Peter’s Hospital, Guildford Road, Chertsey.  During the 45 minute meeting Urological Specialist Mr Idrees Awan – who founded The Hashim Welfare Hospital in his home village of Pindi Hashim  - will outline the progress of the hospital which treated its first patient in June 2003.  Since then over 43,000 people have been treated in the outpatients department many for diabetes and eyesight problems; and over 500 eye operations have been successfully completed.

When northern Pakistan was struck by earthquake in October 2005, killing 73,000 people and injuring 128,288 and millions made homeless, half the staff at the Hashim Hospital set up a relief camp in the afflicted area.  The Hashim earthquake aid grew to such an extent that within six weeks they had taken over four hospitals treating nearly 35,000 people in 10 months.   These hospitals have now been handed back to the Government but Hashim Welfare Hospital staff are now supporting the building and operation of a new day hospital in the village of Tehsildar Wala, Fasialabad and a new dispensary in the villageof Namil Syedain, in district Muzaffarabad.   Donations to the charity are increasing each year and recently ChoudrayShujahat Hussain, former Prime Minister of Pakistan donated 50,000 rupees (around £ 500) to the appeal.

Guest speaker at the meeting will be Clive Thompson CBE, Chairman of Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust.   After the meeting there will be hot and cold refreshments for everyone and an opportunity to talk to supporters of the Appeal who have been out to Pakistan and been involved in the relief work and the work of The Hashim Welfare Hospital itself.

Said Mr Awan: “We hope that interested members of the public, and staff at Ashford and St. Peter’s, will come along.  The support of our NHS colleagues and the general public has been much appreciated and we are looking forward to bringing everyone up-to-date with our news.    And, we do hope those attending will enjoy the refreshments. “

Anyone wishing to donate money to the appeal can do so by visiting www.hashimwelfare.org.uk or by contacting the UKappeal Treasurer, Mr Sajid Mahmood on 01483-762774 or 07887-851040.