Karachi: Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab inaugurated the first Hemophilia Center under a public-private partnership at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad was also present on the occasion.
According to details, the 12-bed Hemophilia Center has been established on the fourth floor of the Trauma Center in collaboration with the Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK).
Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah along with Mr. Raheel Ahmed, founder & CEO of HWSK, Anis Ur Rehman , the president of society formally inaugurated the center by cutting the ribbon.
Following the inauguration, they visited the center and interacted with the young patients.
Founder & CEO of the Hemophilia Welfare Society, Raheel Ahmed, and President Anis Ur Rehman briefed the mayor about the center.
Speaking to the media, Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was inaugurated by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and today marks its 50-year history. He stated that the vision of the Pakistan People's Party and Mr. Bhutto was to provide medical facilities to the people of district central.
Murtaza Wahab acknowledged that, like society, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital had also faced a decline over the years. However, he stated that from the moment he took office as mayor, he was determined to restore the hospital.
He highlighted his efforts to improve various departments and claimed that visible improvements have been made.
Expressing his joy, he said that the initiative taken for hemophilia patients is unparalleled in the country.
Mayor Karachi further stated that Abbasi Shaheed Hospital has now become Pakistan's first KMC-run hospital to have a dedicated Hemophilia Center established under a public-private partnership.
He congratulated Raheel Ahmed, the donors, and the entire team involved in this initiative. He also appreciated the efforts of PPP activist Azmatullah, who is a hemophilia patient himself and played a crucial role in bringing this initiative to reality.
Murtaza Wahab highlighted that hemophilia is an extremely expensive blood disorder, and its treatment costs are beyond the reach of ordinary patients.
He appealed to philanthropists and large corporations to visit the center and extend their support.
He emphasized that with strong willpower and dedication, anything is possible. He also assured that KMC has now taken responsibility for these children, and similar centers should be established not just in Sindh but in every public hospital across Pakistan.
He announced that he would discuss this initiative with President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Chief Minister, and the Health Minister.
Mayor Karachi mentioned that patients from outside Karachi were also receiving treatment at the center, highlighting the city's inclusive nature. He urged everyone to set aside political differences and work together to serve these young patients.
Speaking to the media, the Founder & CEO of the Hemophilia Welfare Society, Raheel Ahmed, expressed his gratitude to Mayor Murtaza Wahab for recognizing the needs of hemophilia patients. He stated that his long-standing dream had finally come true.
Raheel Ahmed also mentioned that this is the first fully operational hemophilia center in any major public hospital in Pakistan, and treatments have already commenced from Tuesday.
Following the inauguration, an awareness seminar on hemophilia was also held, attended by Hemophilia Welfare Society officials, patients, their parents, and doctors and staff from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
