Donors come forward for Quetta boy’s treatment

LONDON: A man from Quetta who has brought his seven-year-old son to London for the treatment of a complex heart condition has thanked Geo News and Jang Group for publishing the news of his son which has led to hundreds of people in Britain taking interest and donating for the treatment of the boy at one of the Harley Street clinics.

The News published a story on 22nd December highlighting the plight of Mohammad Safwan Zaman, 7, who is affected by a complex cardiac defect (double outlet right ventricle with large VSD and previous pulmonary artery hand) and requires medical and surgical care in order to protect his heart and lung circulation from ongoing damage.

Within hours of the publication of news on The News and Geo Online sites, several people and organisations contacted Haji Gul Zaman on his number and email to pledge donations.

“I am thankful to Geo News and Jang Group for highlighting my son’s case. The response has been immense. I have been contacted by lots of people from the UK who have pledged to help. Many have already made small donations to the hospital’s account as well as in the accounts of a charity that has come forward to collect donations. There is a ray of hope that we will be able to achieve our target,” said the father in an interview.

Haji Gul Zaman was told initially that he will need an estimated £40,000 for treatment in the United Kingdom but after he arrived in the UK he was told that treatment at a private Harley Street clinic will cost an estimated double of that amount, which will include overnight stays post-operation and several additional check-ups and procedures. Zaman had sold his assets in Quetta to collect around £40,000 some of which was already spent on his son’s treatment in Pakistan and Malaysia.

Zaman said it’s painful to see his son suffer all the time. The father-of-five children said his son goes through trauma of short breath all the time and there are moments when he’s not breathing at all.

Only seven-year-old but confident and wiser for his age, Safwan Zaman shared he wants to study and become a doctor one day after he’s able to study. “I would like to study and become a doctor to help myself and others one day. I cannot study at the moment due to my heart condition but Inshallah I hope I will be normal after the treatment. London is such a beautiful place and so many people here have shown affection towards me. I am touched,” he said.

Haji Gul Zaman is currently staying at the house of Adnan Zahid, who hails from Karachi.

Adnan Zahid said he was introduced to Haji Zaman by a friend with a request to help him with accommodation. He said since his arrival in the UK, the young patient has been playing with his three daughters and taking keen interest in their books and work.

“He’s so intelligent and wants to learn new things. It’s painful to see him losing his breath and balance every few minutes and that renders him helpless. There is sparkle in his eyes and at such a young age he has big dreams. We are trying our best to help him get good treatment for his issue.”

UK Medical Aid to Pakistan initiated a campaign through its charity platform and its chairperson said their members had donated and will donate more. Dr Khurram Mushtaq Gardezi of UK Cardiologists from Pakistani origin confirmed that several doctors from the group have pledged to support the initiative. Dr Irfan Malik, a renowned Harley Street Clinic spine specialist, said he will personally make sure that the child and his family are helped post-operation for education and rehabilitation.

Safwan Zaman is unable to sleep at night as his heartbeat is either too fast or too slow and doctors have prescribed Viagra tablets for him to keep his heart pumping.

Safwan was treated at the Agha Khan Hospital where cardiac surgeon Professor Saleem Akhtar told the family that Zaman cannot be treated in Pakistan and that treatment would be possible in London. It is understood that his treatment will start after the Christmas break in new year.