THATTA, March 26: It is a pity that people like Dr Zebunnisa Abdul Rehman or Dr Zeb, who spend their entire life in serving the downtrodden people, have to face the brunt of apathy at the hands of their own people and government.

A well reputed social reformist, a leading gynaecologist and the first female medical graduate who struggled for girl education in lower Sindh, is now on a ventilator and fighting for her life — merely for the sake of compassionate or monetary intervention.

Will the government come forward to bring the doctor and her family out of this trauma?

Her parents, relatives and well wishers have appealed to President General Pervez Musharraf to help save her on humanitarian grounds.

Dr Zeb hailing from Mirpur Bathoro, Thatta, is presently fighting for life in a Chinese government facility — Zhonganam hospital at Wuhan.

Some 14 years back she was infected by the hepatitis-C — no wonder she may have caught this infection from any of her patients as gynaecologists are exposed to all sorts of infections and their duty does not guarantee them protection against any disease or infection.

She underwent liver transplant surgery in China on February 9.

Initially, it was agreed that the patient would pay $70,000 as surgery expenses and another $200 daily if her stay in the Intensive Care Unit exceeds to seven days.

Complications developed in the case which requires regular haemodialysis to save Dr Zeb from renal failure.

The hospital after the expiry of the agreed seven-day period enhanced the ICU charges from $200 to $1,500 per day. It is beyond the capacity of Dr Zeb’s family to foot such a hefty amount.

The two sons who have accompanied their mother have made an empathetic appeal to the Pakistani government to help them in their struggle to save Dr Zeb from this traumatic state.

Her parents, relatives and well wishers have appealed to the President to intervene and request China to provide this patient maximum exemption keeping in view her social and academic contributions made for the betterment of Pakistan.