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Visitors
eagerly lined up for their free ride on the Time Travel
machine. |
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A fun-filled Aga Khan University (AKU) Family Mela was held
at Nisar Shaheed Park (Sindbad), Karachi. Organised by AKU Annual
Giving Committee, the exciting event attracted over 4,000 visitors.
This mela's proceed will go towards AKUH Patients Welfare Programme,
which provides financial assistance to patients who are unable to
afford the cost of their treatment. Since 1986, Patient Welfare
Programme has provided Rs. 909 million in welfare assistance, which
has benefited over 183,000 patients. In 2002, financial assistance
to needy patients amounted to approximately Rs. 160 million. The
budget for 2003 is Rs. 145 million.
The Patients Welfare Programme is financed primarily through endowments
supplemented by funds made available by the University Hospital
through its own sources and through donations raised by volunteer
committees. One important committee is Aga Khan University's Annual
Giving Committee, headed by Zaffar A. Khan, President and Chief
Executive of the Engro Chemical Pakistan Ltd.
Colourful stalls were set by corporations and individuals at the
mela. A food court offering different culinary delights attracted
visitors of all ages. AKUH Family Medicine and the Cardiology Departments
was another popular stall that gave free check-ups of cholesterol
and other health indicators and briefed visitors on how to maintain
cardiac and general physical fitness.
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| Zaffar
A. Khan, Chairman of AKU Annual Committee, presents a prize
to the winner of the lucky draw prize competition. |
Exquisite pieces of handmade paper, cloth and items
for home decoration were available at the handicraft stalls. AKU
owned and managed Internet Service Provider AKUNET, offered the
visitors attractive Internet packages. The Volunteer Services at
AKU and the greeting cards section of the Resource Development Department
sold souvenirs, greeting cards.
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| Visitors
benefited from the AKUH Cardiology and Family Medicine stall
where they were provided with free cholesterol and other health
indicators check-ups and briefed on how to maintain cardiac
and general physical fitness. |
For children there were free puppet and magic shows
and various Sindbad rides. Among the visitors enjoying themselves
at the mela were more than 400 students from two boarding houses
in Karachi. These were orphans from an Afghan care programme and
children of interns of the Karachi Central Jail, whose visit was
sponsored by donors.
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| Children
enjoyed watching the magic and puppet shows at the AKU Family
Mela. |
Volunteers and staff from Aga Khan University
and the University Hospital assisted AKU Annual Giving Committee
in organising this colourful programme. The volunteers included
members of AKU Hospitality Committee, students from the International
School of Karachi and many other people, who gave freely their time
in organising this mela. Aga Khan University expresses its gratitude
to all the sponsors, well wishers and volunteers who provided whole-hearted
support to this humanitarian endeavour.
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