“The Hashim Welfare Hospital Appeal is a beacon of community co-operation amidst a difficult time;” said Clive ThompsonCBE, Chairman of Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust. Speaking at the Appeals AGM on the day after failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow, Mr Thompson said: “Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals are proud to be associated with the success of the Hashim Welfare Hospital and all it has achieved to provide healthcare and education for rural people inPakistan. The Appeal has brought together the areas major healthcare provider with an important local community to work for the common good.”
Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals have been associated with the Hashim Welfare Hospital Appeal since 2001 and signed a formal affiliation agreement in 2006. Since 2001 the appeal has provided healthcare for over 78,000 people including 35,000 during the ten months following the earthquake crisis of October 2005. Located between Islamabad and Lahore in north east Pakistan the hospital opened in June 2003 and the latest development, a dental and oral hygiene department opened in March 2006 with the help of the World Health Organisation, has treated over 200 patients since September 2006.
Mr Thompson continued: “I am pleased to be joining the Hashim Welfare Hospital Appeal team as a professional advisor. Everyone involved in the Appeal has achieved something quite remarkable both with the development of the Hospital and also with the substantial earthquake relief provided. When that devastating event occurred the Appeal acted decisively and it has won the Appeal many friends both here in the UK and in Pakistan.”
Around 60 people attended the Annual General Meeting including representatives from Lancashire who also support the appeal. During the year visitors to the hospital in Pakistan included Terry Burns, Chairman of Lancashire County Council and Mike Tull, Head Teacher at Nelson College, Nelson. Although they were not able to attend the AGM a messages of support praising the work of the Hashim Welfare Hospital and the Appeal was read to the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting Appeal Chairman and Urological Surgeon Dr Idrees Awan said: “Our work helping the victims of thePakistan earthquake lasted for ten months and we continue to support the four hospitals which we refurbished and handed back to the local government. We are now focusing on the next stage of the development at the Hashim Welfare Hospitalwhich we postponed to support earthquake relief.
“Work has just started on building a modern eye theatre with pre-operative assessment and post operative recovery facilities, two eight bed day surgery wards and facilities for x-ray, ultrasound and laboratory facilities. The plans for these were drawn up at Ashford and St. Peter’s and modified by our architect and engineer in Pakistan.
“In addition to this important development we continue to support earthquake relief in the worst hit areas and have built a dispensary in Muzaffarabad. We are also supporting the development of a new hospital in Faisalabad on land donated by DrAjmal Naqvi, Vice President of the Hashim Welfare Association, and his family.
“The coming year will be an exciting one for the Appeal as we see the new developments take shape. They will play a vital role in improving healthcare and education for rural areas of Pakistan. I am grateful to everyone who supports the Appeal and our future plans. Without that support and the money donated to our charity none of this would be possible.”
Dr Awan said that the cost of building phase 2 of the Hospital would be around £150,000 and the Appeal already has over £30,000. There was discussion at the AGM about expanding the fundraising side of the appeal to increase donations and income. Anyone interested in supporting the Appeal can find out more at www.hashimwelfare.org.uk or contacting the Treasurer, Sajid Mahmood on 01483-762744 or 07887-851040. The Appeal is a registered charity in both the UK (charity number 1082330) and in Pakistan where recently it received a donation of Rs 50,000 from the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Choudray Shujahat Hussain in recognition of its important work.
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.
