Qari Hospital Okara

A 17-year-old young man from a remote village in district Tando Muhammad Khan, Sindh, named Khalid Siddique successfully underwent a double valve replacement surgery at Qari Hospital recently. The eight-hour long surgery was led by Dr. Yasir Khan a paediatric cardiac surgeon, and was ably assisted by a highly skilled team of anesthetists, cardiologists, nurses and technicians. Khalid was suffering from Rheumatic heart disease since the age of 10. It was a consequence of bacterial infection of the throat which later spread and destroyed the heart valves. Khalid’s father – a daily-wage labourer – visited the Qari hospital two years ago but could not return for a follow up visit due to personal reasons. During this period, Khalid’s condition worsened and he could not walk without getting short of breath. Khalid visited Qari Hospital again in December 2014 and after evaluation with an echocardiogram, he was advised double valve replacement with high risk. It is said that most of the heart problems in children are heart defects which are present since birth and 85% need treatment. Some of the children develop Rheumatic heart disease – as in Khalid’s case – requiring surgery. Their perception about Hospital being only for the rich changed when they received financial assistance from the Hospital’s Patient Welfare Programme. Khalid aspires to go back to his village and continue his education. He is patiently waiting for the moment when he will walk again as a normal person in the streets of his village.

• By: Muzaffar, Form:khi