Administrator Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday said that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is providing free or very low cost medical diagnostic dialysis and treatment facility to employees and their family members.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Afzal Memorial Thalassemia Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, said a statement.
The MoU was signed by Municipal Commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi and Dr. Asim Qadwai.
Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal Memon was also present on the occasion.
The Administrator said that Commissioner Karachi has played a key role in making this MoU possible.
He said that as a result of this agreement, a long term relationship will be established between the two organizations which will benefit KMC employees.
Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that the number of cases of Thalassemia in Pakistan is increasing alarmingly every year. People with the disease need regular blood transfusions and permanent treatment.
He said that most people are not able to afford such expensive treatment and diagnosis on a monthly basis.
He said that Afzal Memorial Thalassemia Foundation has been providing free testing and treatment in Karachi for the last 20 years and that is why we have decided to work with them.
“The initiative is also a social service aimed at paving the way for collaboration between civic organizations and creating an environment in which one part of the community can share the burden, especially in the area of health,” he added.
He said that Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Afzal Memorial Thalassemia Foundation will provide free or low cost diagnostic services to KMC employees and their families.
KMC staff will be provided with a list of these centres and the services of OPD, Lab, Radiology Test, Blood Test and special clinics available.
In addition, dialysis services will be provided free of cost if required.
Under the agreement, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will provide all possible assistance in the campaign to prevent the spread of the disease and to donate blood within the city limits of Karachi.
On the occasion, Dr. Asim Qudwai, Chief Executive of Afzal Memorial Thalassemia Foundation thanked the KMC and Administrator Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab and said that due to Wahab’s cooperation they have been able to serve the employees of KMC.
“It is a community program aimed at improving society by helping one another,” he added.
Dr Qudwai said that a similar memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Commissioner Karachi and Karachi Police, which is benefiting their employees. The program is running successfully.
