KARACHI, May 29: Ten-year old Zakia from Shikarpur, who had lost her leg right from hip-joint and got her urinary tract badly deformed in a road accident at the age of three , appeared well-composed on Saturday a few hours before her departure to Houston, USA, for treatment.

The girl is one of many trauma victims supported by the House of Charity, an organization of US-based Pakistanis. She will be receiving treatment at some of the best medical institutions and under the supervision of recognized plastic and orthopaedic surgeons and urologists in Houston.

Zakia is expected to return in three-six months time. Dr Firoze of the Healthcare and Social Welfare (HASWA) hopes she would regain her mobility to a great extent.

HASWA is a Karachi-based organization comprising the doctors who help identify those traumatized local children who are denied proper medical treatment owing to varied reasons.

Zakia, daughter of a labourer, Rafiq Ahmed, has been endowed by nature a deep sense of complacency well-reflected in her attitude. She, and all around her, pray for her complete recovery from the pathetic situation she is presently experiencing - hopping on her one leg with, at times, a catheter attached to facilitate urination.

According to Ghulam Mohammad Bombaywala, Zakia would be the 50th child to receive treatment abroad and almost all those sent earlier for treatment of severe deformities have returned with almost full recovery. At present, six Pakistani children are under treatment, mainly at Shriners Hospital for Children, in Houston.

Among them is Maimoona, a resident of Orangi Town, a victim of acid burns. She is staying there for about 18 months undergoing the process of surgical reconstruction. She might be back within the next few months.

The House of Charity in coordination with Shalimar Hospital, Lahore, and HASWA identifies children in need and makes arrangement for their therapy. The organization would be dispatching its medical mission, comprising doctors, surgeons, nurses and technicians, in October this year for the purpose. The team would have expertise in crafting prosthesis, its implant and so forth to help children with amputated legs and hands.

The mission would also ensure necessary training for local technicians, surgeons, doctors and paramedics to deal with trauma cases on modern lines.-APP