Aziz Memon conferred Pride of Performance award

Aziz Memon

By Mohammad Nazakat Ali

KARACHI: The President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, has announced civil awards and conferred President's Award for Pride of Performance on Aziz Memon, Chairman Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee and Sitar-e Khidmat on Dr Robert S. Scott, Chairman Rotary International Polio Plus Committee and Chairman, the Rotary International.

The announcement was made by President Asif Zardari the other day when he formally launched the National Emergency Action Plan 2011 for Polio Eradication at the President House in Islamabad by administering polio drops to orphaned children from all the provinces vowing to eradicating polio from the country.

The President complimented the Ministry of Health, the provincial health departments, the Rotary International, the diplomatic community and international partner agencies in making the launch of this program possible and thanked them for their support in the fight against polio.

The President noted that Pakistan has come a long way from 1994, when the polio eradication campaign was first launched formally and the number of cases was more than 30,000.

"Our aim is to make Pakistan completely polio free. We aim that no child lives in the fear of being crippled for life," he observed.

The President said Polio was a crippling disease and continues to threaten opportunities for children. He said unfortunately Pakistan was among few countries which were still not completely polio free.

"We are committed to banish polio from Pakistan," the President said and pointed that the Polio Eradication Initiative was, first launched by the government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

The President said the Lady Health Workers Programme and Polio Eradication Initiative were both launched by her government and added that it was intended to bring primary health care services to those that need them the most.

"It was a demonstration of her commitment to improving the social sector, particularly the health of children," the President said.

He said she was the first Prime Minister to have personally administered polio drops, to a Pakistani child. "That child was no less than our own daughter, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari," he added.

He said the government has nominated Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, as Pakistan's Ambassador for Polio Eradication and said she was committed to carry forward the mission of her great mother and hope for the people.

"Together she will work with you to end polio. Together we will end polio from the country," he said.

The President said the comprehensive plan for polio eradication, prepared by health managers and professionals was clear and doable, and called for addressing the issues of access, insecurity, accountability and ownership.

The President said that Pakistan needs to produce polio vaccines within the country and said that during his last visit to China the two countries signed an MOU on cooperation in manufacture of vaccines.

"Hopefully this cooperation will also be extended to manufacture of polio vaccines in Pakistan for nation wide anti polio programs.

The President recalled his meeting with Bill Gates, during his recent visit to the United States and said the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation were providing great support to the cause of polio eradication.

"I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the Gates Foundation's contribution to saving Pakistani children from polio," he lauded.

Book Review: Spotlight on World Cup 2003

By Prof Dr Nasim Fatima

Spotlight on World Cup 2003 is a decent publication. The book in hand competes with the standard followed by Oxford University Press or Cambridge Series. White offset paper has been used; printing is up to the mark; layout desirable; beautiful title cover in gray shades and a colour of full dust cover present a batsman hitting the ball for a six. In the centre a member of the winning team with the trophy is inserted. Title cover spotlights the subject of the publication obviously.

Jalalddin, a former Test cricketer, has written foreword of the book. He reckons that ‘Spotlight on World Cup 2003’ is another worthy compilation of Syed Khalid Mahmood, having carved a niche for himself in cricket journalism.

The book consists of chapters: Dreams and Nightmares, a poetic imagination of the author with sportsmen; On paper Pakistan had a formidable outfit, an analysis and comments by Wasim Akram, a former Pakistan captain; Lack of passion cost Pakistan dearly, thoughts by Sikander Bakht, a former Test fast bowler; Rules should be transparent, opined Syed Ali Raza, President, National Bank of Pakistan; Mind power makes the difference, believed Azeem Sarwar, a legendary broadcaster and commentator; Australia rules once more, wrote Ehsan Qureshi, a seasoned journalist and Top of the Flops authored by Shahid Mahmood, a noted analyst.

The author has thrown light on the exciting matches of the tournament with the standout performance of Lara, Cordington, Fleming, Obuyu, Bevan, Bichel, Ponting and Martyn getting special mention. The scorecards of all the matches have been arranged chronologically followed by the complete records of the tournament.

The book is fully illustrated by full page colorful and action photographs of the top performers to give a vision to the matches. The book should have been adorned with a name index of the players and other eminent persons mentioned between the covers. The author deserves congratulations for producing a wonderful book for the fans of cricket in the country and abroad.

Anjuman Kashana-e-Itfal-o-Naunehal

Kashana gets fewer babies and therefore the waiting period could be up to two years. They require the adoptive mother to visit their center daily for a week to learn to care for the child placed with her and based on their assessment, they provide their release, which allows one to proceed with getting a birth certificate and guardianship order.

A doctor immediately checks babies that are handed over to Kashana. They are not put up for adoption if there are serious health concerns about the baby or the baby is severely underweight. The staff at Kashana works to bring the baby's weight up to a certain standard, and provide treatment to fix the health issues. In any case, they do not put the baby up for adoption before he/she is at least 3 months old.

They carefully select the couple which they think would be most suitable to raise the baby. They try and "match" the baby with the parents. They believe that this helps the baby to better adjust in the family. Once they think there is a good match, they contact the parents.

The babies are housed in a peaceful nursery with usually three or four attendants. The prospective mother is asked to come to the nursery every day for a week, where she is "trained" to take care of the baby. A separate area complete with a crib is kept aside for this training. The mother learns to clean the baby, feed, change and give the baby a bath.

After the week of training, the baby is taken home. One has to appear with the baby in front of the board at Kashana and there is a formal handing over ceremony with much cheering and blessings for the baby.

Typically, Kashana does not give another child for adoption to a couple who already has one. The reason is the tremendous number of applications they have and the limited number of babies they get. Additionally, they do not hand over the baby to a relative of the adoptive parent. They will inform the parents and wait until the child is picked up by the parent themselves.

In order to apply, one parent has to go and meet Mrs. Isphahani, present their case and fill out the application. One has to fill the application, give a copy of a nikah nama and a photograph of the adoptive couple. Later, a home study and a statement of finances are submitted.

Read an article on Kashana at http://www.dawn.com/weekly/review/archive/031120/review9.htm

Anjuman Kashana-e-Itfal-o-Naunehal

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