100-bed transplant centre inaugurated at SIUT

Wednesday marked yet another milestone in the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation's illustrious journey as the hospital's first dedicated transplant centre was officially inaugurated at a simple yet impressive ceremony.  

The inauguration was conducted by Professor Faisal Shaheen, director general of the Saudi Centre for Organ Transplantation, who was all praise for SIUT Director Dr Adib Rizvi's impeccable management of an institution as respected as the SIUT and for his efforts for establishing the transplant centre.

Prof Shaheen said his country would extend all and any assistance to the SIUT, even in the much contended realm of cadaver organ donation. The senior surgeon termed cadaver organ donation an immense service to mankind, stating that it was the best gift a person could give to another. 

Prominent journalist and member of the SIUT Board of Governors, Zubeda Mustafa, said the example set up by the Suleman Dawood family must be emulated for the well-being and betterment of people.

Expressing thanks on behalf of the faculty, staff and trustees of the SIUT, she said the generous donation of the family was in fact a sign confidence on the SIUT team.

She also lauded the missionary zeal of Dr Adib Rizvi, who by establishing an institution like SIUT and now a transplant tower of delicate organs is a mile stone in the medical and health care world of Pakistan. 

Professor Adib Rizvi thanked the family of Suleman Dawood for generously helping and assisting the SIUT in setting up a transplant centre and also assisting 100 station dialysis unit and a full-fledged oncology ward.

He said the newly constructed centre would enhance the transplant activities in the country and the role of SIUT.

Members of the SIUT Board of Governors and Trust, including Laila Sarfraz, Zubeida Mustafa and Dr Haroon Ahmed, were also present on the occasion. 

Built in a period of four years, the 14-story transplant centre has been constructed over an area of 250,000 sq ft at an estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion to meet the futuristic challenges of the transplant sciences, said a SIUT spokesman.

The centre is a 100-bed facility with integrated facilities like transplant wards, ICUs, pre-transplant unit, donor ward, out patients clinic, radiology, state of the art modern operation theatre, laboratory and rehabilitation centre where the SIUT can manage all transplant under one roof.

“The ultimate goal of the newly constructed Transplant Centre is to enhance the transplant activities in the country and give a new dimension to the overall activities of the SIUT where all treatment is free of charge.”