Tamgha-e-Jurrat demanded for Dr Seemin Jamali

Paying tribute to Dr Seemin Jamali for her relentless efforts in helping the ailing following disasters, incidents of terrorism and major accidents, senior doctors, politicians, civil society representatives and journalists have demanded that the government also award the Tamgha-e-Jurrat to the executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Addressing a reception hosted by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) honouring Jamali on receiving the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan in public service, speakers said she had shown immense courage in her line of duty and made untiring efforts to provide health facilities to the needy and deserving people of Pakistan.

Several senior doctors and caregivers, regulators, politicians, journalists, personal friends and family members, colleagues, staff of JPMC and office-bearers of the PMA addressed the gathering and praised Jamali’s leadership and dedication, which transformed JPMC, especially its accident and emergency department.

In her speech, Dr Jamali said she had always wished to win to PMA’s Professor Tipu Sultan award and this reception in her honour by the association had proved that she had managed to secure the Tipu Sultan award.

Thanking the PMA and all others for their kind words, she said her family and children suffered a lot due to her job but now she realises that the prayers of people whom she served were more important than her personal life.

Lauding Jamali’s, PMA’s patron and former president Professor Tipu Sultan said she was one the finest hospital administrators in Pakistan, who transformed the accident and emergency department of JPMC as one of the best departments in the entire country. He added that she was now heading one of the leading public sector hospitals of Pakistan, which was also being run very successfully.

Sultan maintained that the PMA had started recognising the services and achievements of their colleagues in the medical fraternity and in this regard, Dr Jamali who was recently awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, was being honoured for performing a challenging job for so many years and serving humanity.

PPP leader Senator Karima Khwaja said Jamali not only deserves the Tamgha-e-Imitiaz, but should also be given the Tamgha-e-Jurrat as she served people and took care of the injured despite explosions and firing in her departments, incidents of terrorism, threats to her life and pressures which even very brave men could not handle and many quit their jobs and even left the country.

Sindh Healthcare Commission Chief Executive Officer Dr Minhaj Qidwai said the way Jamali should be a role model for most of the people in the health sector. Professor Tariq Mahmood, the head of JPMC’s Radiology Department said he faced many difficult times with her during their job at JPMC but never saw her afraid or terrified in any situation.

The reception was addressed by Jamali’s husband Professor A.R Jamali, Dr Qazi Qasiq, Dr Khalil Muqadam, Dr Noor Muhammad Soomro, Health Journalist M. Waqar Bhatti, Dr Qaiser Sajjad and others.