News Letters

1. AL-SHIFA TRUST

• Al-Shifa Strategic Plan 2006-2025 ready to be launched

2. AL-SHIFA TRUST EYE HOSPITAL, RAWALPINDI

• Activities of Pediatric Ophthalmology department
• • Dr. Ayesha Khan successfully completes training at Toronto
  • Training of foreign doctors in Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • International Pediatric ophthalmology Conference at Al-Shifa Rawalpindi
  • Expansion of Child Eye OPD
• Activities of Glaucoma Clinic
• • Prof. James Standefer takes up the post of Prof. Emeritus of Glaucoma
  • ...... Conducts two weeks training in glaucoma
  • One-Day National Seminar on Glaucoma
• Activities of Retina Clinic
• President of Pakistan Awards “Sitara-e-Imtiaz” to Chief Consultant
• Young Friends of Al-Shifa
• • Exemplary social work
  • An Evening with Parents of YFA
• Fund raising function in Islamabad

3.      Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Sukkur

• Specialized Clinics fully functional

• Foundation of National Academy of Paramedics

4.      Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Kohat

• Hospital ready for inauguration

5.      Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals Quetta and Muzaffarabad

6.      Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology

• Induction of new faculty members
• New Induction for FCPS and DOMS
• Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology Launched
• Pay scales revised for Al-Shifa Staff
• Dr. Wajid visits LV Prasad Institute Hyderabad, India
• Dr. A Aziz and Ms. Samina complete their training at Moorefield’s
• Dr. Tariq Nadeem proceeds to USA for training in Pediatric ophthalmic anesthesia. Eye Anesthesia

7.      INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

• Al-Shifa – LIONS National Academy of Paramedics (NAP) launched at Rawalpindi
• ORBIS, OEU, LIONS, Govt. of Japan and SSI launch various projects at Sukkur
• OEU District Mansehra project in final phases

VISITORS
PATIENT COLUMN
PROGRESS REPORT
FUTURE EVENTS

APEAL

 

The implementation of Al-Shifa Strategic plan for the next 20 years has been set into motion. The plan expected to cost about Rs. 3 billion will be launched from 1^st January 2006. With Rawalpindi Hospital already a center of excellence, rest of the four hospitals namely, Sukkur, Kohat, Quetta and Muzaffarabad will also be developed into Centers of Excellence within next 15 years. These hospitals will have all the facilities for advanced treatment, post-graduate training and research. National Institute of Ophthalmology will also be established to coordinate and monitor the advanced training at these hospitals. The allied facilities like IT, tele-ophthalmology, public relations department, and ocular diagnostics will also be developed for each hospital.  The key emphasis of the plan is on sustainable human resource development and financial self-reliance.

Activities of Pediatric Ophthalmology department

• Dr. Ayesha Khan has successfully completed her one-year training at Hospital for Sick Kids Toronto. Together with Dr. Shehla Rubab, who had earlier completed this training, Al-Shifa now has now one of the strongest teams in pediatric ophthalmology. Being a center of excellence, pediatric ophthalmologists from within Pakistan as well from countries of the region, like Iran, Sudan and Bangladesh are now converging here for training purposes.
• International Pediatric Ophthalmology Conference has been scheduled from 9-11 December 2006. Prof. Marilyn Miller from University of Illinois, Prof. Alex Levin from Hospital for Sick Kids Toronto and Ms. Christine Weidner from Austria will be leading speakers in addition to many national and regional speakers.
• Pediatric Ophthalmology Out Patient Department is currently getting a new complex, which will host number of additional pediatric, optometry and orthoptic clinics. The construction and furnishing is expected to complete by the end of current year. We are thankful to Mr. Aslam, a philanthropist, who has donated the cost of construction and furnishing.
  

• Prof. James Standefer, a leading expert in the field of glaucoma from University of Minnesota has tremendously helped in development of our glaucoma clinic by conducting two weeks long workshops twice since 2001. Dr. Farah Akthar and her team at glaucoma unit are now fully equipped to treat complicated cases being referred from different parts of the country.
• As a part of this training program, a national one-day glaucoma seminar was also held, which attracted over 80 ophthalmologists from all over the country.
• Prof. James E Standefer has also now taken up the position of Prof. Emeritus at Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology, Al-Shifa Trust. He will be gradually involved in supervising the post-graduate training in ophthalmology at the institute along with advising on human resource development program of the Trust.
  

• Dr. Wajid Ali Khan, Chief Consultant Al-Shifa Trust, has been conferred upon “Sitara-e-Imtiaz” by government of Pakistan due to his outstanding public services in the field of prevention of blindness. He is a leading expert in corneal transplantation and refractive surgery. This is a great honour for Al-Shifa. It may be recalled, that earlier, President of Pakistan has also conferred Mr. M. Tehzib of Al-Shifa Center for Community Ophthalmology with this award

• As ever, YFA has been very active in youth development and promotion of noble cause of Al-Shifa. During summer vacations, over 50 young friends have carried out exemplary social work to help patients at the hospital.
• In addition, YFA has also conducted multiple promotional activities like: -
• A kite & face painting stall at Islamabad Basant Festival and another at Roots School
• A blood donation campaign for Pakistan Red Crescent Society
• To acknowledge the dedicated services of our youths, an award-distribution ceremony presided over by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed was organized by YFA. Visibly impressed by the skills, dedication and commitment of our Young Friends, Mr. Mushahid very aptly remarked “ YFA very clearly displays the difference between mercenaries and volunteers for the noble cause”.
• Fund raising function at Islamabad
• Al-Shifa Trust recently organized a fund-raiser in Islamabad on 16th April. Mr. Soomro, Chairman Senate and a Trustee of Al-Shifa was the Chief Guest. The venture, first of its kind by Al-Shifa in Islamabad, was a great success. Over 250 guests including senior public and private sector notables participated. Donations of over nine million rupees was collected on the occasion. Chairman Public Relations Committee, Mian Javed and his team deserve special credit for this.

• Chairman Senate was the chief guest at the foundation laying ceremony of Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology at Sukkur. During the first phase, construction of National Academy of Paramedics is taking place. Courses for Ophthalmic Nursing Assistant and Ophthalmic technician will start shortly in the existing premises. Regular classes for whole range of paramedics will later start in the new premises.
• Chairman Senate also inaugurated the “Dr. Nisar Pathan Specialist Block” which houses Pediatric, Retina, Glaucoma, Cornea and Low Vision clinics. Specialists from Al-Shifa Rawalpindi visit regularly to provide consultation in these disciplines. Equipment purchase was already completed earlier. Clinics are now fully functional.
  

• Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology Launched: We have achieved another milestone. The first issue of our scientific journal “Al-Shifa Journal of Ophthalmology” has been published. The journal can also be accessed now via our website.
• Induction of new faculty members: We welcome Dr. Farah Akhtar (Glaucoma), Dr. Sultan Asif Kiyani (Oculoplasty), Dr. Sardar Abdul Moqeet (Cornea), Dr. Mustafa Abdul Hameed (Glaucoma), Dr. M Hanif (Pediatrics) and Dr. Naveed Qureshi (Pediatrics) into our faculty.
• New Induction for FCPS and DOMS: A new batch of trainees for fellowship in ophthalmology (FCPS) and diploma course (DOMS) has been inducted. The competition for these training slots at PIO has been so tough, that few of the residents who have completed their 4-year training elsewhere volunteered to join Al-Shifa as first year resident.
  
• Pay scales revised for Al-Shifa Staff: The pay scales have been revised for the staff of Al-Shifa Trust. With a raise of up to 25%, the package is very competitive. The increase also includes a handsome raise in the stipend of post-graduate trainees from Rs. 6,000 per month to Rs. 10,000 per month.
• Visits:
• Dr. Wajid Ali Khan, Chief Consultant Al-Shifa Trust visited LV Prasad Institute Hyderabad, India in connection with OEU partner’s conference. Mr. Gullapali Nag Rao, a renowned international figure from this institute and current President of International Agency for Prevention of Blindness will also be making a visit to Al-Shifa Trust in near future.
• Dr. A Aziz and Ms. Samina have completed training in their respective fields of ocular electro-diagnostics and orthoptics at Moorefield’s Eye Hospital, London. ORBIS International supported the training.
• Dr. Tariq Nadeem from Al-Shifa is starting his training in child eye anesthesia at University of Chicago, Illinois.
  

• As a WHO Collaborating Center for East Mediterranean Region and WHO regional resource center in pediatric ophthalmology, Al-Shifa Trust has strong bonds with WHO. Recently President Al-Shifa hosted a dinner to WHO Regional Director, Dr. Hussain Al Gezairy, when the later was on an official visit to Pakistan. The dinner was also attended by senior officials from Ministry of Health, WHO, and senior faculty of Al-Shifa. We are grateful to Dr. Gezairy for patronizing Al-Shifa right from its start.
  
• Mr. Khalid Usman from Canada, Mr. Tahir Zafar, Mr. Terry Shaikh from USA and Mr. and Mrs. Younas Bhatti from UK also visited Al-Shifa during this period.
  
  

• Asmara and Ammara - twin sisters were born completely blind from both eyes. Residents of Kohala, a remote town in the north, their parents never knew that a cure is possible. The twin sisters were admitted to a blind school for no fault of theirs. It is tragic, that they remained in blind school for full one year and remained undiagnosed. Fortunately, Al-Shifa had planned to undertake a survey of blind schools in the area. Asmara was diagnosed to have congenital cataract and was operated later. Her younger sister, Ammara was unfortunately not present in the school on that day. The elder sister could see for the first time in her life after was operated upon both of her eyes. Parents and Blind School teachers, now convinced that a cure was possible, brought the younger Ammara six months afterwards. Recently she has also been operated on one of her eyes. Eye operations in children need highly skilled professionals and expensive equipment. Fortunately, by His Grace, Al-Shifa has both. Asmara, Ammara, Amir Shah, -------; there is a long list of children who need this specialized care. With your help we are doing our best; with more help we can do more.
• Syed Amir Shah is an 11 years child, who developed cataract in his right eye. Settled in Abu Dhabi, UAE, he was shown at Gold Sands Abu Dhabi Hospital. The doctors at the hospital without any hesitation referred the child for further treatment to pediatric ophthalmology department of Al-Shifa Eye Hospital Rawalpindi for surgery. This is in fact a recognition of the quality of specialized services we are providing in the region. The child has since been successfully operated.

• Inauguration of Kohat Hospital by President of Pakistan:
  November 2005
• Inauguration of Al-Shifa LIONS National Academy of Paramedics by Prime Minister of Pakistan: December 2005
• Visit to Gulf States by President of Al-Shifa: 15 Sept to 04 October, 2005
• Launching of Al-Shifa Strategic Plan: 2006-2025: 1st January, 2006
• International Pediatric Ophthalmology Conference: 9-11 December 2005