Rawalpindi:Over the past three years, the Al-Shifa Eye Cancer Centre has successfully performed 2500 sessions of chemotherapy procedures for children who have been diagnosed with eye cancer.
President Al-Shifa Trust Major General (r) Rehmat Khan said every stage of the procedure – from evaluation to chemotherapy and rehabilitation – is handled under one roof, making our hospital a unique resource for treating patients suffering from eye cancer. Speaking at a seminar titled “Story of challenges and opportunities”, he expressed gratitude to kind donors for helping to defray the exorbitant expense of treating eye disease. He also complimented the medical staff, treating cancer patients with utmost care and dedication. “Our donors are transforming millions of lives and assisting suffering humanity in rewriting their stories while becoming contributing members of society,” he said.
Rehmat Khan stated that as protecting and restoring eyesight is a noble objective, we will continue to treat impoverished children with eye cancer at no cost despite all financial difficulties. On the occasion, Professor Dr Tayyab Afghani, HOD Oculoplastics, said that the number of eye cancer patients is increasing. As compared to the regional countries, Pakistan is witnessing an increase in eye cancer cases in children at an alarming pace, he said. Children’s eye cancer in Pakistan is higher than in India and China, and genetic diagnosis can reduce children’s eye cancer cases, he added.
He said that 2000 children with eye cancer have been registered of whom 500 have fully recovered. The Al-Shifa Eye Cancer Center caters to surgery, chemotherapy, and rehabilitation under one roof, free of cost. The patients include non-affording men, women, and especially children, and 86 percent of all eye cancer patients are children, he informed.