KARACHI: Speakers at a programme held on Saturday praised the Pakistan Eye Bank Society (PEBS) for its efforts to support the poor, especially for running an eye and general hospital in North Karachi, for the past four decades.

They were expressing their views at the inauguration of a radiology department at the PEBS Eye and General Hospital, a health facility functioning on donations and providing treatment either free or on highly subsidised charges.

Named after the late columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee, the radiology department is funded by the Cowasjee Foundation.

Guests, including consuls general of the United States and France, lauded the expansion of treatment facilities at the hospital and said they were impressed by the quality of services being provided at the facility.

“Provision of proper health facilities is a pressing need of society and I hope that more such projects would be taken up by the eye society,” said consul general of France Francios Dallorso.

Sharing similar views, acting US consul general Chad Peterson lauded the Cowasjee Foundation for its contribution to projects benefiting those who couldn’t afford quality education and healthcare.

On the PEBS initiatives, Mr Peterson said such humanitarian services had an immeasurable impact on society as they benefited hundreds and thousands of poor patients and their families.

He offered his full support to the eye society for its future endeavours.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the charity hospital was one of the few health facilities in the city which were like a gift for Karachiites perturbed by the increasing cost of living.

The MQM, he said, was aware of people’s basic needs and would take up health issues on a priority basis as the party now had the opportunity to serve the city through the local government.

“The party will make Karachi a green city of Pakistan. Everything is possible if one has the will to struggle for it,” he said, adding that he hoped the provincial government would transfer powers to the local government.

Vice president of the PEBS Dr Jamal Akhtar and honorary medical director of the hospital Dr Jahanzeb Mughal thanked the Cowasjee Foundation and the guests and told the audience about the society’s services.

“Our motto is to serve all. And, making another effort to achieve this objective, we are planning to set up a vocational school for under-privileged girls with public support,” said Dr Akhtar.

Among other facilities, the hospital has an eye department, dental & maxillofacial care and physiotherapy units, a maternity home and childcare centre, a diagnostic laboratory, a free drug centre and a mobile service unit.

“Recently, we have started consultancy services for cardiac and diabetic patients. The hospital is, perhaps, the only health facility in the country where cornea grafting is performed free of charge,” said hospital administrator Aftab Alam Khan.

According to him, the PEBS is looking for support for its under-construction dialysis, cardiology and intensive care units while funds are also required to further equip the newly established radiology department.

The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which was performed by Ava Cowasjee, the chief guest.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2016