Emergency room: Magazine awards doctors for saving lives

Last year the event focused on Sindh, this year it had doctors from across the country.

KARACHI: Many of those present at the Sindh Scouts Auditorium had seen Dr Meredith Grey save lives on the small screen. On Tuesday, they had gathered at the auditorium, just around the corner from the Sindh Secretariat, to appreciate the work of doctors and paramedics in the field of medicine at an event organised by Life Magazine.

The Life Awards are the brainchild of the magazine’s editor, Siraj Amjadi. Last year the event was limited to doctors in Sindh, this time it was for doctors across the country.



“Our selection is based purely on merit,” said Dr Hanif Saeed, from the organising committee. “There is no nepotism involved.” He hoped this initiative would go further and help Pakistan advance in the field of medicine and health.

Amjadi started his speech by saying a few words about Dr Saleem Kharal who was shot dead in December, 2011. He said that the late doctor’s contributions - his work, voice and services, would not be forgotten.

Dr Kharal’s wife and son had been invited by the organisers to accept the award for their efforts in keeping the late doctor’s work alive by running the civil complex.

When Dr Kharal’s wife, Yasmeen, went onstage to collect the award she said that it had taken her a long time to come to terms with how her husband had died. She added that her son would serve the country in different fields, just like his father had done.

Many other practicing doctors were given awards and if they couldn’t make it due to work commitments, the awards were collected by their families. Education minister Nisar Khuhro was present as chief guest. He was presenting the awards while Amjadi was calling out the names.

Khuhro asked why they couldn’t discuss medicine on television just like they talked about politics and other topics. He said people should be informed about something as basic as boiling water so they know how to take care of their health.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2014.