Toys, food boxes, blood bags, masks from Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Foundation for kids suffering from thalassemia
At a time when Pakistan is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, those suffering from thalassemia are facing a shortage of blood as some patients need a routine blood transfusion.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Ali Alizada, took a rare initiative to help children suffering from thalassemia.
He paid a visit to Sundas Thalassemia Center of Pakistan in Islamabad and personally presented toys and food boxes to the kids at the center.
Among the staff, he distributed medical equipment, masks and blood bags which were also provided by the support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan which is dedicated to serving and treatment of patients suffering from thalassemia and hemophilia in Azerbaijan and abroad.
At the center, the Ambassador met with the medical staff as well as the patients and their families. He also visited the transfusion ward, lab, blood bank and pharmacy of the center.
Mr. Ali Alizada, on behalf of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, wished them a blessed Ramadan and expressed his best wishes.
The center’s chief administrator, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Aftab Hussain, briefed the Ambassador about the facilities and the patients admitted.
Sundas Thalassemia Center has been operating for more than 20 years. Currently, more than 350 children from different parts of Pakistan suffering from thalassemia and more than 60 children suffering from hemophilia are currently receiving free treatment and blood transfusion, informed. The first of its kind center in Pakistan also provides financial and logistical support to the families of patients.
The Azerbaijan Ambassador recalled joining an iftar dinner organized for orphans and special children at the Aiwan-e-Sadr last year, with the participation of the President of Pakistan and the First Lady.
Mr. Ali Alizada said that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation started its work in Pakistan after the devastating earthquake in 2005. The foundation helped construct a new school for girls in Muzaffarabad, by the initiative of the President of the Foundation, First Lady of Azerbaijan – Mehriban Aliyeva, after the devastating earthquake in 2005,
During the last 15 years, the Foundation has initiated a series of social and humanitarian projects in all provinces of Pakistan. “The Foundation also assisted in the establishment of Thalassemia Center in Islamabad, donated ambulances and thousands of blood bags to various charity organizations of Pakistan, did not forget orphans and special children during Ramadan every year, organizing iftar dinners and presenting gifts to them.”
The Iftar dinners were not possible this year due to the pandemic, but other charitable activities of the Foundation would continue, he said.
Ambassador Alizada expressed hope that the social and humanitarian projects by the foundation in Pakistan would further strengthen and deepen friendly and fraternal relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Aftab Hussain, Chief Administrator of the Center thanked the Ambassador and Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the donation of blood bags, masks, food boxes and gifts and for their social and humanitarian projects in Pakistan.