Eye ailments: Prime Minister inaugurates AJK's first modern treatment facility

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday inaugurated an eye speciality hospital here, the first ever such medically advanced facility in Azad Kashmir. The Prime Minister unveiled the plaque of Al-Shifa Eye Trust - the biggest hospital in the valley with a modern ophthalmology department, for the treatment of eye ailments.
Gilani was accompanied by AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Wattoo. Near Rara Camp overlooking the Neelum and Jhelum River, the hospital has been constructed with a cost of Rs 250 million. It spans over 60 canal of land, which has been provided free of cost by the AJK government. The facility is an outcome of financial assistance by philanthropists and donors of Al-Shifa Eye Trust.
The PM visited various sections of the hospital including operation theatre and the female ward. He enquired about the health of the patients. President Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals Lieutenant General (Retd) Hamid Javed apprised the Prime Minister that following the quake a 100-bed hospital was available. However, he said now the hospital could cater upto 1,000 patients, with convenience of 100 operations a day.
He said the hospital would be soon up-linked with other Al-Shifa hospitals through tele-ophthalmology link, two of which were already connected. He appreciated the generous help of the federal government and also thanked the government of Japan for providing some vital equipment.
Dr Fazlur Rehman, who was the personal physician of Saudi King Khalid for 20 years and a major donor of this hospital, paid rich tributes to the founder of Al-Shifa trust Lieutenant General (late) Jehandad Khan. He urged philanthropists to donate generously to the hospital. Later, Prime Minister Gilani gave away souvenirs among the top donors. The event was also attended by Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan.
The hospital will serve five million people and will also set up eye camps in remote areas to refer serious cases to the hospital. The hospital is the only speciality eye hospital in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, completed in two years. The Prime Minister's daylong visit is in connection with the sixth anniversary of the 7.6 magnitude massive earthquake in 2005 that hit Azad Kashmir killing 73,000 people and rendering millions homeless.