An Organization for Persons with Disabilities
An Organization for Persons with Disabilities
Dr Awan is a consultant ophthalmologist with more than 40 years of experience. Back in the year 2003, he decided to dedicate the remaining years of his professional life, full time to the service of the underprivileged majority of the community. As a humble start in 2004, he converted a donated two-bedroom first-floor apartment into an eye clinic and never had to look back. It took him about 12 years of hard work and perseverance to earn donor confidence and patient satisfaction.
Dr Mazhar’s contributions in the fight against Visual Loss and blindness in Pakistan, in line with the vision of being the engine of creating and delivering high-quality eye healthcare available and accessible for all. He aims to rid the world of avoidable blindness and Visual Loss in line with IAPB/ WHO Vision 2020 Right-to-Sight Initiative and Global Action Plan (GAP) Integrated with People-Centered Eye Care (IPCEC).
His physical impediment, being in a wheelchair for the last 15 years or so following an episode of Myelitis in the past, didn’t hold him back from the relentless pursuit of his vision. In his words, “I have achieved more during this phase of disability than during able years.”
He worked hard to create Khairun’nisa Eye Hospital and then got it certified for ISO 9001:2015 QMS. This was his way of ensuring the creation and delivery of quality service. He strongly feels it’s the right of all, regardless of their paying power.
As of date, Dec 2022, more than 90,000 patients have beneftted with eye healthcare consutations and more than 20,000 major Surgeries have benn performed, and counting. About 80 % of the patients weren provided service Free Of Cost. Countless outpatient diagnostic & therapeutic procedures, medicines, optical aids, major and minor surgical procedures were provided.
He Initiated the School Health Program with the following unique attributes. Electronic robust database for reference and analysis, empowerment of school staff by increasing their awareness and learning basic eyesight screening of students and last but not the least, follow-up of the visually impaired children.
HRD is THE only way forwards if we want to achieve meaningful results in curtailing the prevalence of Visual Loss and blindness anywhere. Dr Mazhar Awan, with his team, is developing a six monthly internship program aimed at capacity building of our optometry graduates.
He firmly believes that target of minimising, let alone eliminating, Visual Loss is possible through the provision of robust primary care infrastructure accessible in the community and/or strengthening the existing infra-structure through public-private partnership and capacity building efforts.