All Saints Church attack: LRH holds condolence reference for slain employees
CEO says funds provided by the provincial govt for emergency treatment are inadequate.
An employee of Lady Reading Hospital attends the special prayer service for the victims of the All Saints Church blast. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR:
Employees of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Saturday paid tribute to their co-workers who died in the suicide blasts at All Saints Church on September 22.
The administration of the LRH arranged a condolence reference at the hospital’s auditorium for janitorial staff members Waris and Sabir. LRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Javed and Medical Superintendent Muhammad Iqbal Afridi along with a large number of employees attended the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, CEO Javed said the attack on All Saints Church, which claimed 83 lives, was the second worst attack in Peshawar after the 2009 blast in Meena Bazaar which killed 137 people.
“We have spent nearly Rs10 million on the treatment of victims of the church blast,” said Javed, adding the provincial government had released Rs50 million to the hospital for emergency treatment services which was an inadequate amount.
“We have had discussions with Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai regarding the high expenditures of the LRH and he assured us more funds would be released for the provision of emergency services,” said the CEO.
Javed maintained the LRH was the only hospital in the world which had received and treated such a large number of bomb blast victims. The doctor added around 5,000 patients visit the hospital daily apart from cases of terrorist attacks.
“Following the incident of the church blast, we performed nearly 200 surgeries. At the moment, two of the injured victims of the blast are admitted to the hospital, while three victims of the Gulbela bus attack and 19 victims of the Qissa Khwani Bazaar car bomb are also under treatment at LRH,” said Javed.
According to the CEO, police and security at the hospital has been increased and they have been instructed no one be allowed to enter the emergency ward following any terror incident.
“Additionally, when any politicians come to visit, they would only be allowed to visit the blood bank so that they may donate blood,” said Javed.
Furthermore, the CEO announced a family member of the deceased employees would be hired at the hospital in their place.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.
Employees of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Saturday paid tribute to their co-workers who died in the suicide blasts at All Saints Church on September 22.
The administration of the LRH arranged a condolence reference at the hospital’s auditorium for janitorial staff members Waris and Sabir. LRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Javed and Medical Superintendent Muhammad Iqbal Afridi along with a large number of employees attended the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, CEO Javed said the attack on All Saints Church, which claimed 83 lives, was the second worst attack in Peshawar after the 2009 blast in Meena Bazaar which killed 137 people.
“We have spent nearly Rs10 million on the treatment of victims of the church blast,” said Javed, adding the provincial government had released Rs50 million to the hospital for emergency treatment services which was an inadequate amount.
“We have had discussions with Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai regarding the high expenditures of the LRH and he assured us more funds would be released for the provision of emergency services,” said the CEO.
Javed maintained the LRH was the only hospital in the world which had received and treated such a large number of bomb blast victims. The doctor added around 5,000 patients visit the hospital daily apart from cases of terrorist attacks.
“Following the incident of the church blast, we performed nearly 200 surgeries. At the moment, two of the injured victims of the blast are admitted to the hospital, while three victims of the Gulbela bus attack and 19 victims of the Qissa Khwani Bazaar car bomb are also under treatment at LRH,” said Javed.
According to the CEO, police and security at the hospital has been increased and they have been instructed no one be allowed to enter the emergency ward following any terror incident.
“Additionally, when any politicians come to visit, they would only be allowed to visit the blood bank so that they may donate blood,” said Javed.
Furthermore, the CEO announced a family member of the deceased employees would be hired at the hospital in their place.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.