Outreach programme: Al-Shifa Eye Trust to expand

To minimise the incidence of blindness, which has become a major challenge in rural areas due to non-availability of proper treatment, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital (ASTEH) has decided to expand its network to union councils under its outreach programme.

The announcement was made at a conference held to mark the first death anniversary of Jahan Dad Khan, the founder of the hospital, on Monday. ASTEH President Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Javed said the trust is planning to increase the number of eye camps to cope with the cases of blindness and provide treatment to people at their threshold. He said the trust is providing free-of-charge treatment to over 150,000 patients annually, which makes ASTEH the largest outreach eye-care programme in the country. A floral wreath was also laid on the grave of Jahan Dad Khan. The trust management also announced an Annual Jahan Dad Khan Gold Medal for doctors showing outstanding performance in the field of ophthalmology.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2012.