Recently, Dawood Global Foundation held the 12th Anniversary of the Ladiesfund Women’s Awards for Pakistan 2020 at Sindh Governor House....
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Despite the hardships and health risks, millions of essential frontline workers continue to do their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. These hardworking heroes care for those who are most vulnerable and keep us safe. It is only right that these unsung heroes are recognised for their dedication and efforts.
Recently, Dawood Global Foundation held the 12th Anniversary of the Ladiesfund Women’s Awards for Pakistan 2020 at Sindh Governor House. The event was a Facebook live where dynamic and inspiring women in Pakistan and around the world watched, celebrated and appreciated the strength and empowerment of women, as well as acknowledge the great life-saving contribution of Pakistani women as frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tara Uzra Dawood, President of DGF, opened the event and the Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail, was the Chief Guest for the event. The short ceremony honoured 12 frontline workers as Ladiesfund 2020 Women of the Year – Adeeba Hafiz (nurse, Indus Hospital), Dr Aysha Almas (AKU, set up temporary Covid-19 facility), Dr Baakh Nusrat (helped set up the government field isolation centre), Fatima Majeed (food ration distribution to fishery community), Pastor Ghazala Shafique (food ration distribution to marginalised communities), Karima Hirani (ER nurse manager, AKU), Kiran Pulzaib (nurse, Indus Hospital), Dr Nawal Salahuddin (critical care, NICVD), Dr Sehrish Batool (helped set up the government field isolation centre), Shabana Francis (nurse, SIUT), Dr Sara Ahmed (Infectious Diseases Consult, Patel Hospital), and Dr Shobha Luxmi (Dow University Hospital).
Tara welcomed the global virtual audience and shared the history of the prestigious awards for Pakistan and their commitment to honour the outstanding women of each year. “This year, it was the frontline workers to whom we as a nation owe so much. They helped keep us alive and safe, always at the risk of their own.”
Each recipient shared a personal story from her frontline work, with Pastor Ghazala Shafique passionately thanking the foundation’s food drive that had both a strict Zakat fund as well as a sadaqah fund, the latter of which she found as the only NGO that answered her need to feed starving Hindus, Christians and eunuchs. Dr Shobha Luxmi spoke of the realisation that material things do not matter while treating some of the wealthiest people in Pakistan. She witnessed they couldn’t take a single breath without assistance.
The Governor’s closing remarks moved all with his recognition and appreciation to these women and organisation for honouring them at this moment in time, when our nation owes them so much.
— A. Jafri
