LRBT (Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust)

Our 21 Millionth Patient – Baby Sajida

lrbtadmin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:08:16 +0000

9 years old Sajida lives in Qasba Colony in Karachi. When she was 6 she fell seriously ill but as her father Khalil was away for work and visited only once a month the child’s illness was ignored until he came home and found her with very high fever. Khalil was horrified and rushed her to a government hospital where the child was treated for fever but the long ignored disease had already badly affected her vision. The government hospital’s doctors sent them to a private hospital for eye treatment where Sajida was under treatment for 2 years to fund which Khalil was forced to borrow money from his relatives. Instead of improving her condition got worse to the extent that her left eye ball popped out of the socket. The private hospital washing their hands off her referred her to LRBT Korangi. At LRBT Sajida was given emergency treatment. She was operated the same day and the doctors had to remove her left eye ball as the infection had spread and could have threatened her right eye. Keratoplasty (Corneal transplant) was performed on her right eye on 15th September & she now has functioning vision.

Khalil who in desperation had tried to commit suicide is now overjoyed: “It is difficult to believe that not so long ago her future prospects looked unlikely to amount to more than begging on the streets. Sajida can now lead a normal life. I am lost for words to thank the doctors & staff of LRBT for their humanity, kindness & generosity. I’ll pray for them till the day I die.

LRBT inaugurates the 17th Free Eye Hospital in North Karachi

lrbtadmin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:34:39 +0000

LRBT inaugurated its 17th Free Eye Hospital in North Karachi, Karachi on January 2, 2012. The facility has been opened in a renovated building generously donated to us by Mr. Kazmi for which we are deeply obliged to him. It is an 8-bed hospital that will provide FREE TREATMENT to 150 patients in OPD and will perform 15 Cataract surgeries on Daily Average basis. The hospital consists of an Operation Theater, Male & Female Wards, Out Patient Department (consisting of rooms for Screening, Refraction & Biometry), a Laboratory and a Pharmacy. To further facilitate the patients, the hospital will be enhanced to accommodate 300 patients in Outpatient Department and perform 30 cataract surgeries per day by July, 2012.

Pakistan Centre For Philanthropy Certification (PCP)

lrbtadmin — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:42:34 +0000

LRBT has been awarded the NPO Certification by Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy for meeting standards in the areas of Internal Governance, Financial Management, and Programme Delivery. LRBT scored 91% and is rated by PCP in their top percentile

Annual Review 2011

lrbtadmin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:54:36 +0000

Pakistan is a male dominated society where women have the last call on family resources. Their health care needs have lesser priority and as 2/3rd of the population lives around the poverty line there is never any money to get them treated. Women are the anchor of the family.

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Saved from a life of darkness – A new future for Sajida

lrbtadmin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:04:22 +0000

Little Altaf Hussain – Our 20 Millionth Patient

lrbtadmin — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:57:41 +0000

10 years old Altaf Hussain visited LRBT hospital with his mother and aunt holding his hands, bringing him to the pediatric ward of LRBT Korangi hospital for a follow up visit.

Altaf by birth had very weak vision and whiteness in his eyes and his parents took him to various government hospitals where the doctors diagnosed cataract. He required immediate surgery but his father Mohammad Amin was a worker at a local estate agency earning Rs. 6000/ month and could not afford to pay Rs. 30,000/-for his surgery as he had to support four more of his children.

Despite being visually impaired Altaf continued to study in a government school close to his house though he couldn’t score high grades. His teachers were very cooperative and helped him in all possible ways. But by the time he reached class 3 he had almost turned blind. He was dropped out and his parents were advised to enroll him into a school for the blind. The desperate parents asked a few relatives for financial help so that they could get their son treated but none came forward.. Altaf was in a worse state as he really wanted to study but he felt his dreams were shattering.

Finally something happened that changed his life forever. A relative came to visit them and seeing his condition told his parents about a free eye hospital in Korangi Karachi. Altaf was delighted to hear the news and immediately went with his parents to LRBT hospital. After thorough examination he was given date for surgery. Upon arriving on the given date his surgery was performed for one eye and the other eye was operated a week later.

Upon his follow up visit to LRBT, Altaf was very excited to be able to see again. Cheerfully he exclaimed; “I have experienced many problems throughout my studies but now will be on the same track as my class fellows. Now I can pursue my goals and fulfill my dreams and the credit goes to the doctors and staff of this hospital who were very kind and compassionate to me throughout”

Mohammad Mushtaq – Our 19 Millionth patient

lrbtadmin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:53:39 +0000

At LRBT we strongly believe that” Life’s richest blessings come not in receiving, but in giving”. Meet Muhammad Mushtaq, our lucky 19 millionth patient whose life has been transformed by the sight restoration surgery performed free of all charges by LRBT

Muhammad Mushtaq lives in slums of Malir with his 5 children and his sister who looks after the children and the home since the death of his wife many years ago. For Mushtaq . a day laborer, life was a hand to mouth existence. There were days when he could not find work and trouble was often “just around the corner.” At the age of 50, he started to lose his vision and this affected his work. A few weeks ago, one afternoon, Mushtaq was at work when his supervisor pointed towards a piece of iron and asked him to get it. Mushtaq could not see the iron his supervisor was pointing to. His supervisor scolded Mushtaq for not following his orders. Mushtaq shamefacedly admitted that he “couldn’t see.” The supervisor who was a hard nosed man sacked him on the spot.

As Mushtaq was leaving the site a co-worker came to ask him why the supervisor was angry. With tearful eyes Mushtaq told him that his vision had been deteriorating for the past several years and he had hidden it from everybody for fear of losing his only source of livelihood. He had no money to get himself treated and was the only breadwinner for the family. Listening to the sad story his friend decided to help him and took him to a free eye clinic in Surjani town that he knew about. There, an LRBT team consisting of a doctor and a paramedic examined his eyes and sent Mushtaq to LRBT Free Eye Hospital in Korangi Karachi for possible surgery.

Mushtaq underwent detailed examination and was diagnosed with cataract. In view of his circumstances he was given a date for surgery in the very next week. Mushtaq described his feelings when the doctor opened his bandage, “My world was brighter than I could ever imagine. I can work again & feed my family”.

On his follow-up visit to LRBT Korangi he reminisced, “God in his infinite mercy had given me a new life. If my friend had not cared about my plight and if LRBT hadn’t extended free surgery & treatment I would have been reduced to the life of a beggar. Now I can stand on my own feet & earn enough to look after my family”. LRBT has saved my dignity and I will pray for the donors and staff of the hospital till the day I die

Bushra Wahabuddin – Our 18 Millionth Patient

lrbtadmin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:46:16 +0000

Each person facing vision loss has a unique and compelling story to tell. Bushra is a 20 year old girl, youngest of her 8 siblings. She was very young when her mother became ill and was
often in and out of hospital. Her father who ran a small carpentry shop also kept poor health. Her parent’s illness meant that most of the income was spent towards hospitals fees. Consequently, Bushra was forced to drop out of school when she was very young.

Sometime later, both her parents passed away. At that time 6 of her

brothers and sisters were married. Bushra started to live with her unmarried sister and since she did not have any formal education and her elder brothers were doing casual jobs, Bushra began looking for a job as a housemaid.
Luckily she found one in a beauty parlour and through hard work and a desire to succeed; she soon opened up a small salon at her residence in Korangi 2 1/2, earning approximately Rs. 4000 every month.

Bushra was struggling hard and was determined to grow and do well in her profession, but after sometime she realized that her vision had begun to deteriorate and this was
beginning to affect service to her clients. Due to paucity of funds, she tried several local remedies but in vain. She was disheartened as all her dreams were shattering one by one and she could not do anything about it. She asked her siblings for help but no one came forward as they too could not afford to get her treated. Bushra finally closed down her parlour as she had almost lost her vision and the future seemed hopeless. She felt helpless and there were days when there was barely enough food in the house. She had become totally dependant upon her siblings for virtually everything in life.

A year later, hope flickered once again: A former colleague of her father came to tell her that she could get her eyes treated in a free eye hospital near by. She immediately went to LRBT Free Eye Hospital in Korangi and after a thorough examination; she was diagnosed with Cataract in both her eyes. Her surgery was performed the very next week that not only give back her eye sight but also restored her livelihood. Bushra has restarted t her small salon and was once again able to support herself.

Bushra says:
“LRBT has made a significant difference in my life. It has transformed me
from being a burden on my family to a beautician who aspires to become
a true professional and provide excellent services to her clients.
I am deeply thankful to God along with all the doctors, the
staff and the donors for giving me back my lost vision.”

Manthar Khaskheli’s Blind Family – LRBT Treats Sight of 7 Blind People Belonging to One Family

lrbtadmin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:41:57 +0000

Manthar khaskheli is a hari who lives in a mud hut in Khaskheli village in District Badin. He gets a share of the crops from his landlord and supplements that by odd jobs in the off season. Life is a struggle to survive as he supports a family family consisting of his 7 children as well as his brother and his sister. Manthar was the sole bread winner of the family as 5 out of his 7 children as well as his brother and his sister were all blind.

Manthar was resigned to his wretched existence believing that it was pre ordained. But his fate was destined to change the day a letter by a socially concerned individual.
appeared in a newspaper about his bleak condition appealing for help

The letter prompted a quick response from LRBT a charity who runs a chain of 16 hospitals and 39 clinics spread all over Pakistan. They sent a doctor from their eye hospital in Tando Bago to examine the patients to see what could be done for them. Manthar was thrilled to hear that the condition of his blind family members was treatable. The doctor immediately took his brother and sister to LRBT Free Eye Care Hospital in Tando Bago where they went under surgery and their vision was restored. His children were sent to Karachi on August 26, 2009 to be treated in LRBT’s Free Eye Hospital, Korangi where their successful surgeries were performed. All this was done free of all cost; even the.
transport and living expenses were
borne by LRBT. The children saw the world in all its colors for the first time in their dark existence

It was the most precious moment in their short life, truly unforgettable. Manthar could not believe his good fortune; with tears running down his cheeks he thanked Allah for sending LRBT and its doctors who gave the gift of sight to his family. For him Eid had arrived early and a miracle had happened.

Surgery Under Process

lrbtadmin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:41:06 +0000