Hayatabad Paraplegic Centre: Some play with their lives, others put them back together
If a bomb had a mind of its own, it too would think twice before going off because of the tragic consequences its triggering off results in. However, as it clearly does not, man has to account for the lethal ticking device and the devastation caused by it.
One of the many tragic repercussions of these bomb blasts is the rise in spinal cord injuries in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). With the province becoming a hotbed of terrorist activity, amid the bloodshed, the Hayatabad Paraplegic Centre in Peshawar is nothing short of a blessing as it provides free treat for spinal cord injuries that normally costs up to Rs250,000.
Paraplegic Centre Chief Executive Dr Muhammad Ilyas informed The Express Tribune that while road accidents, falls, firing in the air, and natural disasters are among the factors that result in spinal cord injuries, in the last two to three years, the number has increased in K-P due to terrorism and bombardment.
He further said that the centre, established in 1984 by the government with the cooperation of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has rehabilitated more than 7,000 patients so far. There are currently 72 patients in the centre who have fallen victim to bomb blasts, aerial firing and other incidents, he added.
It takes around three months on average to treat and rehabilitate the patient. However, around a third of spinal cord injuries are easily preventable.
Policeman Gul Khan spoke of how he ended up at the centre, “We were on night duty on July11, 2011 when we became victims of a blast near Urmar Police Station, which killed two of my colleagues on the spot and injured seven of us. The other six recovered, but I was brought to the centre from Lady Reading Hospital. Here, I am getting good treatment free of cost.”
Blast victim Fazl Hadi said, “I was injured in the suicide attack on Mandokhel Masjid in Jamrud, Khyber Agency on August 19. I had lost use of my feet, but now with Allah’s blessings and the doctors’ efforts, I can walk.”
Sanam Ayub said that she had been hit by a stray bullet during firing in the air at a marriage, “I have been here for the past one month and have been getting free treatment.”
The chief executive of the centre said that besides treatment and rehabilitation, “we are also running follow up programmes in Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan and Charsadda districts.”
Rehabilitation Co-coordinator Muhammad Zahir said, “The institution is not only providing free treatment, but also physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and occupational and vocational training”.
In addition to providing treatment, the centre also engages patients in recreational activities, encouraging them to integrate with the community.
Zahir said it is not a job but a mission for the staff here, as he pledged “to transform the Paraplegic Centre into a centre of excellence for patients with spinal cord injuries from all over the world in the next five years.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2011.
COMMENTS (3)
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Paraplegic centre, Hayatabad, Peshawar is really doing a great job. In prevailing atmosphere of destress due to prolonged terrorism in our country, institutions like Paraplegic centre, Peshawar are blessing for us which not only raise our morale but also lessen the miseries of spinal cord injured patients. All of us should join hands with Paraplegic centre as done by Madam Mehwish Qayum by writting this article in Tribune. All of us should play our role according to our abilities and capacities. If any one among us a teacher, he can teach the patients at the centre once a week or month, if any one is a builder, he can offer his building expertise as 72 beds are not enough and these should be 722, if any one is a technitian, he can teach his skill to the patients so that they may earn once get discharged and the endless list goes on.
Lets come and show our support. The injured persons don't need our sympathy but a little support.
Its quite encouraging that despite careless behavior of so many people towards the human life some institutions along with their like minded are taking good care of the cause of humanity in Pakistan. I believe its hard to address the terrorism issue and fanaticism in our society but we can at least try to cure the sufferings of the people by establishing and helping such institutions. Fred Hollows Foundation Country Head Dr. Rubina Gillani is among those philanthropists and public health professional who not only in her personal capacity but as the head of an international organization encouraged and help this institution to increase their capacity of dealing with emergencies. Dr. Rubina Gillani is among those persons who are larger than life and are real motivation for others to follow in Pakistan.
This centre is doing sterling work working against all odds like financial, lack of proper training facilities for staff and equipment.