A Word From Pakistan
My journey with MIST Foundation started soon after the devastating earthquake that shook the northern areas of Pakistan and Kashmir. On the 08th October 2005 thousands of people were killed and hundreds of thousands were left injured. Many relief organisations from around the world responded to help Pakistan cope with the devastation.
Soon after MIST was founded in 2005, a dedicated surgical team was dispatched to Abbottabad in Pakistan and then onward to the earthquake areas. This consisted of prominent Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, Anaesthetists and Paramedical staff from the UK. They were equipped with all the essentials to perform scores of surgeries from simple to complex injuries. The team also established a Limb Reconstruction clinic at Ayub Teaching Hospital in order to train local doctors and Paramedical staff.
MIST sent several teams to Pakistan throughout the same year in order to continue treatment of the injured earthquake victims. Many were evacuated from the mountainous regions of the affected areas for treatment.
Training of local Doctors and Medics continued at the same time, which is still a source of learning for the new trainees. Since 2005, MIST continues it’s journey with the same enthusiasm, dedication, professionalism and effective team work in different parts of the world affected by natural disasters, and to train local Doctors and Paramedical staff equipping them with up to date knowledge and skills in trauma management and care.
To this day I still feel proud to have been part of the MIST team in my home country during the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. I would like to express my best wishes to the MIST founder, Dr Suheal A Khan and his medical team for his tireless efforts in making MIST the front line organization during these natural disasters, and as an academy of learning in peace time.
Dr Imtiaz Ul Haq
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Pakistan