Giving back: Dow class of ’85 comes up with Rs25m for radiology upgrade

The tradition of each class giving back was started in 1978.


Samia Saleem December 13, 2010

KARACHI: Dow Medical College’s Class of 1985 has decided to help upgrade and renovate the radiology department of Civil Hospital, Karachi. This contribution to their alma mater is part of a custom according to which every year the class that completes its 25th graduation year, gifts or makes a contribution to the government hospital.

The class of 1978 began this practice by building the surgical operation theatre complex. The class of 1983 contributed to the Dow laboratory and one class upgraded the gynaecology and obstetrics operation theatre and another the gynae-emergency ward.

“We want to give a gift to the institution that gave us so much. It made us stand on our feet and become successful doctors,” said gynaecologist Dr Samreena Hashmi, the Pakistan Medical Association’s general secretary and president of the Dow ‘85 Alumni Foundation.

She said that they are attempting to digitilise the radiology department so that it will be part of the 21st century. The department, she said, will be equipped with the latest machines operated by qualified radiologists and support staff.

“It will make the latest diagnostic techniques and technologies, which are presently available at a considerable cost in private hospitals, available to common people free of charge,” she added.

Dr Hashmi said that the class plans to install a digital x-ray system which will produce superior quality images and will be of great help to physicians who miss common diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer due to poor quality images. Digital images will save time and the cost of x-ray films. She added that this will provide a means for better training future doctors and radiologists. Once the images are archived, the database can be used for teaching students and research, she added.

Dr Afzal Saeed, a pathologist in private practice, gave credit to his alma mater for where he had reached in life. He said that they had received quality education and had improved their social standing without being charged much in terms of tuition. “Most of my classmates could not afford an expensive education. We would be standing nowhere had it not been for Dow,” he said.

The Dow ‘85 Alumni Foundation is collecting funds from their classmates and other donors to complete the project. Out of 450 classmates, 150 are already on board, said Dr Hashmi.

The total cost of the project is Rs25 million and the class has pledged to contribute half of the funds themselves. Dr Hashmi said that one third of the total amount has already been collected.

The first consignment of the project is scheduled to be installed by December 20 while the second phase will continue into January 2011. The project is expected to take close to a year to complete.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

shaista afzal | 13 years ago | Reply This tradition should continue, even the classes which have completed 25 years and have not contributed should come forward and donate either in the same fund or start a project of their own. Relying totally on govt funding will not be effective in improving the condition of our own DUHS.
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