Qatar Charity (QC) sponsored 30 surgeries for children with a cleft lip and palate in the Peshawar district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The surgeries were performed under the QC’s “Sinaeat Alibtisamah” (“Making a Smile”) health initiative, and as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Alkhidmat Hospital in Peshawar, a statement said Tuesday.
Dr Abdul Hameed, child specialist at the Alkhidmat Hospital, appreciated the QC and said that the parents of the children are very happy with the outcomes of the surgeries.
“This is the first time I see a humanitarian organisation sponsoring such surgeries,” he said while thanking the benefactors in Qatar and the QC for the initiative helping underprivileged families.
“I was feeling embarrassed in front of my friends and colleagues, as my voice was not clear due to the cleft lip and palate,” said beneficiary Hakeem Ullah. “My appearance was strange and awkward as well. This badly affected my studies and caused a lack of confidence.”
“However, after the free surgery, I am happy that I can meet my friends with a smile,” he said.
The mother of Asma Khan, another beneficiary, said: “I am a widow with limited income and was unable to bear the huge medical expenses for my daughter’s surgery. However, with Qatar Charity’s support, my daughter had a successful surgery.”
The “Sinaeat Alibtisamah” initiative aims to implement 20 projects in five countries, including Pakistan, to benefit 1,000 children during the current year.
The QC, as part of its 2021-2025 health strategy, contributes to improving the healthcare situation in several developing countries suffering from low primary healthcare service coverage.
This is achieved by increasing the coverage of primary and secondary healthcare services, thus promoting sustainable healthcare development.
A beneficiary of the QC initiative.
