RIYADH — Pakistan Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq was all praise for doctors from his country who had organized a free medical camp for their needy compatriots on the embassy premises in Riyadh recently.
“Pakistani doctors, especially those involved with the Pakistan Doctors Group, are our pride resource here when it comes to extending medical service to the needy members of the community living in Saudi Arabia,” Haq said while addressing the doctors.
He said Pakistan Doctors Group-Riyadh (PDGR) did a great job in hosting the medical camp for the low-income Pakistanis who could not afford expensive medical care in Saudi Arabia.
“Today the PDGR has proved that indeed doctors belonged to a noble profession,” Haq added.
He made various suggestions to improve the medical camp, among them extending the service to Pakistanis in far-flung areas outside Riyadh. He urged the PDGR to produce short videos on preventive healthcare, which could be relayed via CCTV in the waiting areas of the embassy so visiting Pakistanis could benefit from them.
Haq and his wife Nighat Manzoor appreciated all members of the PDGR for their hard work in making the medical camp a great success. “We are very happy to see PDGR members and the volunteers on Friday, a day of rest for them, spending their valuable time among the needy Pakistanis and helping them with their health issues. We have been to 37 countries and I have never witnessed such a free medical camp organized anywhere,” the ambassador said.
He commended Zaheem Ul Haq, marketing director of Al-Sameer Group, for donating two ultrasound scanners to the PDGR Clinic at the embassy.
PDGR Chairman Dr. Riaz Javed Khawaja, President Dr. Suhail Inam and Vice President Dr. Tanveer Aziz also praised the PDGR team that worked day in and day out in organizing the medical camp and making it a great success. Earlier, Ambassador Haq, accompanied by his wife, Deputy Head of Mission Khayam Akbar and senior members of the PDGR, toured the medical camp. The doctors and the patients were visibly pleased to find the ambassador and his wife with them.
Doctors in all major medical specializations were present at the camp, examining more than 800 people with various illnesses.
Free blood sugar and blood pressure tests were available, in addition to ultrasound scans, echocardiograms and various laboratory tests carried out on doctors' advice. Prescription drugs were dispensed to all patients free of cost.
The patients included men, women and children with many of them coming from the surrounding regions of Riyadh.
Patients waiting to be examined listened to useful lectures and presentations on various diseases, their treatment and prevention. The lectures and presentations were given by a team of doctors led by Dr. Irfan.
Young men and women volunteers from all around Riyadh were present to render necessary assistance. They were from Pakistan International School-English Section, Pakistan Cultural Group, Indus Group and Institution of Pakistan (IEP-SAC), and many others.
Deputy Head of Mission Khayam Akbar, Group Captain Asad Ibrahim and Military Attaché Brig. Tahir Gulzar Malik gave their active support to the medical camp by providing necessary logistics.
