At least 173 children have successfully been provided cochlear implants through various hospitals of the country, said Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) Managing Director Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar.
He was addressing a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signing ceremony with National Hospital and Medical Centre in Lahore on Monday.
He said cochlear implants were being provided to the deserving in collaboration with private hospitals. Under such partnerships, PBM bears Rs1 million for each cochlear implant while the rest of the expenses were being met by the hospitals concerned.
Pakistan Baitul Mal joined hand with National Hospital and Medical Centre in Lahore with an aim to lead the deaf and mute children towards happy and sovereign life with cochlear implants.
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Khokhar and Administrator National Hospital Dr Usman Jillani validated the agreement with their signatures. PBM Director Medical Dr Javed Iqbal and PBM Regional Director Muhammad Zaheer also attended the ceremony.
Dr Iqbal said that today’s public-private partnership would have a life-changing impact on the lives of deaf and mute children. He expressed his gratitude to hospital management for being part of PBM for such a noble cause.
Zaheer was of the view that every family could not afford an expensive cochlear implant for their children so they leave their children vulnerable for the entire life just because of financial barrier. This medical intervention will have a life-changing impact on the lives of deaf and mute children and would be a source of ever-lasting satisfaction for us as well when these children will grow up with hearing and speaking abilities and eventually, they will be part of the country’s stability and prosperity.
While articulating his passion to implement the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan in order to reform the country on the values of ‘Riasat-e-Madina’, Malik Zaheer Abbas said that PBM with its eminent pro-poor services PBM has been addressing multifarious issues associated with poverty like chronic disease, illiteracy, disability, hunger, child labour, and so on.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2021.
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