A G Khan Memorial Hospital Inauguration
What began as an idea for a modest clinic in Barazai, Pakistan, became the village’s first hospital facility serving the village and surrounding Chach area. The hope for this medical facility was to reduce the need for transportation to neighboring towns and cities for access to timely and basic healthcare services.
Facility Construction:
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, construction on this project began in September 2020. By March 2021 progress could be seen:
Regional facilities were toured and the local community was consulted to assess needs, administrative models, and capacity for the facility. Currently, the A G Khan Memorial Hospital consists of a one-story building with 3 exam rooms, 2 waiting rooms, a pharmacy, a laboratory, and a covered parking lot for patients.
Inauguration:
The A G Khan Foundation has partnered with the Barazai Welfare Society (BWS) to oversee the administrative functions of the hospital. Local medical practitioners were sought to provide direct care to patients in Barazai and neighboring communities. A hospital Administrator was located, a General Practitioner agreed to provide treatment for minor issues and during emergencies, and the team expanded to include paraprofessional healthcare staff. The hospital opened its doors on 1/3/22, with a ribbon-cutting inauguration ceremony.
In its initial 4 weeks of services in January 2022, The A G Khan Memorial Hospital served 487 patients, and 18 patients were provided with free treatment. In February 2022, a decision was made by the A G Khan Foundation Board of Directors to further waive the physician fee for patients, thereby reducing cost for patients solely to their medication. Currently a number of services are provided, including COVID-19 screening. During emergencies, the facility has the capacity to provide immediate care and coordinate the transportation of patients to regional facilities for more specialized or long-term care.
Future Plans:
There is a plan to later expand the facility with a second story, add office spaces, a conference room, and overnight housing for medical providers, as well as additional exam rooms for patients.
The Foundation hopes to expand the medical team to include:
A Gynecologist to evaluate and treat pregnant women, provide prenatal care, provide healthcare education about preventative and hygienic care, perform Cesarean-sections as needed, and provide post-delivery monitoring and treatment,
A Pediatrician to provide preventative vaccinations and treatment to children,
A Dentist to provide dental hygiene care, and
An Optometrist to provide ongoing vision screenings and care.
