PESHAWAR:Senior Delegates of European Union (EU) AND UNHCR Afghanistan along with RAHA Pakistan visited Medical Teaching Institute Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar (MTI-HMC).
The visit was aimed at highlighting the impact of joint working of HMC and the UN refugee agency and EU. The delegation commended the efforts of the Government of Pakhtunkhwa and its people for graciously hosting Afghan refugees, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.
The delegation was impressed with the diverse nature of specialized services provided by HMC amidst heavy influx of patients and the recent Covid pandemic.
The delegation comprised Jan Mattke, International Aid Cooperation Officer, Migration and Forced Displacement, EU Afghanistan, Taheemi Thammannagoda, Head of Office Pakistan and Iran EU/ECHO Pakistan, Aoife Mcdonnell, Senior External Relations Officer UNHCR and others.
On the occasion, Medical Director Professor Shehzad Akbar Khan briefly appraised delegation about MTI HMC and its constituent institutes. He explained how MTI-HMC enjoyed a partnership that spans over a decade with a significant impact on healthcare of Afghan Refugees in KP.
He expressed gratitude to UNHCR and EU for their wide range of support in treatment of thalassemia patients and improving diagnostic services in one of the premier institutes of KP. He highlighted areas for future collaboration between MTI HMC & UNHCR and EU, especially the new Casualty and Trauma block at MTI-HMC which is expected to complete very soon.
It is important to mention here that Afghan Refugees are treated indiscriminately and generously at the health facilities of KP. MTI-HMC has provided healthcare services to 236456 Afghan citizens in the Emergency and Out Patient Department (OPD) including 1123 in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) during the year 2021-22.
Later 128 slice CT scan was formally handed over to the Hospital Director HMC Dr. Shahzad Faisal and a memorandum of understanding was also signed during the visit. The delegation also visited different sections of the hospital including Gastroenterology, Hematology daycare center and Radiology departments and appreciated the advanced facilities at the hospital. The Hospital Director thanked UNHCR & EU on behalf of the Board of Governors for their continuous support.