12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

LAHORE, April 11: A team of Italian and Pakistani plastic surgeons is operating on burn victims at the Shalamar Hospital free of cost. This was stated by Musarrat Misbah of Depilex , Mubashir Luqman, Faryal Gauhar, Dr Franchesco and Dr Losasso at a news conference here on Sunday. The operations have been arranged by Depilex for around 40 victims, most of whom are women.

They said the Italian doctors, who had also conducted similar operations in October and November, would return to their country after a month but Pakistani doctors would continue to provide post-operative assistance to the patients.

They said the organization was establishing a rehabilitation centre for burn victims in Begumpura where the victims would be offered psychological therapy and trained in various skills to enable them to earn their livelihood.

They said the organization also planned to establish a full-fledged burn centre for the victims, where local doctors would also be trained in treating and rehabilitating burn victims.

They said that equipment for treatment of burn victims was being provided by the Italian doctors and funds by foreign and local donors. The only proper burn unit in Kharian was providing treatment only to army officials, they said. Two burn victims were also present at the news conference.