Scarborough doctor heads to Pakistan to help flood victims.
Dr. Shahnaz Dar, left, Farooq Khan, executive director of North American Muslim Foundation in Scarborough, and Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis speak with reporters about cash and food donations for the victims of the Pakistan floods. Dar along with Dr. Muzna Ahmed left for Pakistan following the news conference to help injured flood victims.
Staff Photo/ANDREW PALAMARCHUK
Dr. Shahnaz Dar will be tripling her workload. And her new patients are among the neediest on the planet.
On Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Scarborough physician flew to flood-ravaged Pakistan where she will treat about 200 patients per day and distribute food and school supplies.
"The doctors there are very overworked. It's not as though the doctors there are not doing enough or don't know what they're doing," Dar said before heading to the airport. "The short-term goal is to supply food, medications and medical attention to people who are there. It's 20 million people who are affected."
Dar is travelling with another doctor as well as husband Vijdan Nizami, a videographer, and daughter Heerah.
Nizami will make a documentary of their two-week trip, which will be shown at a fundraiser in late September.
"The death toll hasn't been high," Dar said. "We need to react now so that we can keep the death toll at what it is and not wait until the numbers get to be significant."
Dar noted the trip is costing her about $20,000, which doesn't include loss of income.
"The pictures that I see are just heart-wrenching. I want to go. I feel that I can make a difference."
Two more doctors from the GTA will be heading to Pakistan on Sunday, Sept. 12, along with Scarborough-Agincourt MP Jim Karygiannis and Farooq Khan of the North American Muslim Foundation in Scarborough.
"Canada along with other western countries must do their share, must come forward and help the people of Pakistan in their hour of need," Khan said. "The tragedy is very far and wide."
Khan's foundation has sent more than 17,000 kg of relief supplies to Pakistan.
The doctors heading to Pakistan have established the Doctors for Pakistan Flood Relief Fund.
The money raised will be used to purchase medical supplies for flood victims. Donations may be made at any Bank of Montreal branch. The account number is 8995-485; the transit number is 2465.