PESHAWAR: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has provided state-of-the-art medical equipment to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) to boost the performance and capacity of the ophthalmology department as well as meeting the increasing growing needs of the patients.
The handing over ceremony for the equipment, worth rupees 21 million, was held at the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar on Tuesday.
The ceremony was attended by UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Head of Sub Office Peshawar Mr. Dinesh Shrestha, Hospital Director Dr. Khalid Masud, Chairman Board of Governors Lady Ready Hospital Dr. Nosherwan Barqi and other dignitaries.
Established in 1924, Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) is the oldest public sector hospital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and also the largest Tertiary Care Referral Hospital in the Province.
LRH has been widely considered as one of the best hospitals in the province providing quality health services to its patients.
However, with the gradual and steady increase in caseload of patients visiting the Eye Department, a strong need for enhancement of existing facilities was observed to ensure the efficiency of its service delivery.
Hospital Director Dr. Khalid Masud expressed his gratitude to UNHCR for providing generous support to the hospital.
“Provision of the latest medical equipment at the ophthalmology department will not only meet the increasing demand, but will also improve the quality of medical services provided to the general population,” said Dr. Masud.
Prof. Dr. Burqi, speaking on the occasion, appreciated UNHCR’s contributions to enhance the capacity of the LRH and highlighted that the management is very pleased to continue providing all types of health services to Afghan refugees at par with the Pakistani population.
UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela appreciated the generosity of the government and people of Pakistan for hosting millions of refugees for four decades.
Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela said UNHCR has been providing health assistance to refugees and their Pakistani host communities, adding such investments in health systems is a demonstration of solidarity and burden-sharing by the international community with the people of Pakistan.
