A new hope for liver patients
Four patients have already undergone surgeries and are on the road to recovery.
ISLAMABAD:
Thanks to the new liver transplant centre at Shifa International Hospital, Muhammad Yaseen, 11, the only brother of eight sisters, can now live life to the fullest. He can go to school and play like his peers and look forward to a fulfilling life.
Yaseen formerly inaugurated the centre, on Saturday, opening its doors to all Pakistanis. The transplant centre has been functioning for the past six weeks and has given four recipients a fighting chance.
“We formally inaugurated the centre so patients are aware of the facility,” said Liver Specialist Dr Faisal Dar. A smiling Yaseen who was suffering from a congenital liver disorder that resulted in complete liver failure shared his jubilation at being able to live life like ordinary boys.
“I want to be a liver transplant surgeon when I grow up,” said Yaseen with conviction. Three other recipients also shared their happiness and new zest for life, while donors said giving a part of your body for the survival of a loved one is a small price to pay.
Dr Dar said all four patients Muhammad Yaseen, Asad Mir, Safia Begam and Rehana Babar and their donors Humaira Sadaf, Waqas, Muhammad Irfan and Umar Zahid respectively, are in good health and recovering rapidly. He urged people not to hesitate in donating part of their liver to save precious lives as donors also recover very rapidly after donating a piece of their liver.
Though the transplant centre has been functional for six weeks, liver transplants and procedures have been carried out at Shifa International Hospital since 2009. Dr Dar said, “Liver transplant surgery is not new to Pakistan, but since many previous efforts have failed despite the availability of resources and infrastructure, the challenge was to develop a sustained liver transplant programme by studying and addressing existing deficiencies.”
A liver transplant costs between Rs3 to 4 million which is attractive for foreign patients as well, while Pakistanis will save a lot of money, effort and time as they won’t have to travel abroad for treatment, added another specialist.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2012.
Thanks to the new liver transplant centre at Shifa International Hospital, Muhammad Yaseen, 11, the only brother of eight sisters, can now live life to the fullest. He can go to school and play like his peers and look forward to a fulfilling life.
Yaseen formerly inaugurated the centre, on Saturday, opening its doors to all Pakistanis. The transplant centre has been functioning for the past six weeks and has given four recipients a fighting chance.
“We formally inaugurated the centre so patients are aware of the facility,” said Liver Specialist Dr Faisal Dar. A smiling Yaseen who was suffering from a congenital liver disorder that resulted in complete liver failure shared his jubilation at being able to live life like ordinary boys.
“I want to be a liver transplant surgeon when I grow up,” said Yaseen with conviction. Three other recipients also shared their happiness and new zest for life, while donors said giving a part of your body for the survival of a loved one is a small price to pay.
Dr Dar said all four patients Muhammad Yaseen, Asad Mir, Safia Begam and Rehana Babar and their donors Humaira Sadaf, Waqas, Muhammad Irfan and Umar Zahid respectively, are in good health and recovering rapidly. He urged people not to hesitate in donating part of their liver to save precious lives as donors also recover very rapidly after donating a piece of their liver.
Though the transplant centre has been functional for six weeks, liver transplants and procedures have been carried out at Shifa International Hospital since 2009. Dr Dar said, “Liver transplant surgery is not new to Pakistan, but since many previous efforts have failed despite the availability of resources and infrastructure, the challenge was to develop a sustained liver transplant programme by studying and addressing existing deficiencies.”
A liver transplant costs between Rs3 to 4 million which is attractive for foreign patients as well, while Pakistanis will save a lot of money, effort and time as they won’t have to travel abroad for treatment, added another specialist.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2012.