Surgical mission to Hyderabad

In order to treat patients that do not have free treatment available in their cities of residence, we regularly perform surgical missions throughout the country. In the morning of September 27, 2019 our team set off on a mission to Hyderabad in the southeastern province of Sindh. The distance of 180 km was covered in 2.5 hours. The hosts for our cleft mission were Dr. Iqbal Haroon and his team at the Hajiyani Day & Night Hospital, Police line, Hyderabad.

Hyderabad is a multiethnic metropolis, due to its history. After Pakistan's independence in 1947, much of Hyderabad's Hindu population majority migrated to India and was replaced by the Mujahirs, Urdu-speaking Muslims emigrating from India at the same time. Further immigrants came from northern Pakistan, adding Pashtuns and Punjabis to the city's population. Further significant minorities are Brahuis, Memons and Baloch.

After arriving in Hyderabad and getting freshened the team inaugurated the camp and started consulting patients. Overall 89 patients were examined, some of which however did not turn out to have clefts. On the 27^th, 19 cases were operated, with Professor Dr. Ganatra, Dr. Mukesh and Dr. Wasay Latif working in parallel in three operating theatres. On the second day an additional 21 patients were operated on, for a total of 40 cases.

Cleft Pakistan thanks Dr. Haroon and the Hajiyani Day & Night Hospital, the surgeons, and the donors who together made it possible to improve the lives of 40 patients in a single weekend. This mission was only one of many - our team is performing missions such as these regularly. Every time they succeed in helping many Pakistani patients, from babies to adults, who would otherwise not have been able to get the lifechanging treatment they need, so that they can live better lives.