Sir Henry Holland Mission Eye Hospital (Urdu: ہنری ہالینڈ مشن آئی ہسپتال), also known as Sir Henry Eye Clinic, Mission Eye Hospital, and Hiranand Charitable Eye Hospital, is an eye hospital located in Shikarpur, Sindh.[1][2] It is named after Sir Henry Holland.[3][4]
| Henry Holland Mission Eye Hospital | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Shikarpur, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 27°57′11″N 68°38′58″E / 27.953176009169486°N 68.64947589090754°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Hiranand Charitable Eye Hospital |
| Opened | 1909 |
| Links | |
| Lists | Hospitals in Pakistan |
History edit
The inception of Sir Henry Holland Mission Eye Hospital can be traced back to 1909 when a philanthropist, Hiranand, invited Sir Henry Holland to establish a medical facility in Shikarpur.[2][5] Hiranand provided land, construction resources, and a sustenance fund for the patient and their companions.[1] Holland accepted, on the condition that the local community leaders consented to the project, and he retained the freedom to practice his faith and preach outside his professional environment.[1]
The proposal was initially met with substantial opposition due to Holland's affiliation with a Christian mission, raising religious concerns among the Hindu and Muslim communities.[1] Hiranand, however, challenged the objectors to find a doctor with the same caliber and commitment as Holland who was not Christian.[1] Hiranand eventually succeeded, leading to the establishment of an annual eye clinic in Shikarpur, starting from 1910.[1]
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s Holland's pioneering contributions in ophthalmology drew international attention.[1] Physicians and surgeons from the United Kingdom, Europe, and as far as the United States, Canada, and Australia came to learn and practice at the hospital.[1] This influx of global expertise transformed the hospital into a leading eye care facility.[1]
Hiranand, until his untimely death in 1913, bequeathed an endowment of Rs100,000 (approximating Rs105 million in 21st century) to sustain the clinic and cover staff expenses.[1]
After formally retiring in 1948, Holland transferred the administrative reins of the mission hospitals in Quetta and Shikarpur to his son, Harry Henry.[6][1] Nevertheless, he continued to perform eye surgeries at Shikarpur until 1956, reflecting his unflagging dedication to the cause of ocular health.[1]
Since its foundation more than 150,000 eye operations have been performed.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Khan, Mahmood Hasan (June 5, 2016). "Tribute: The miracle of sight". DAWN.COM.
- ^ a b c Khan, Shameen (May 21, 2015). "Sir Henry's forgotten dream". DAWN.COM.
- ^ Dow, Huch (1966). "Obituary". Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society. 53: 109–111. doi:10.1080/03068376608731940.
- ^ Rasheed, Shaikh Abdul (August 7, 2020). "Saving Eyes in Quetta, Shikarpur and Beyond".
- ^ "A historic hospital". DAWN.COM. May 14, 2019.
- ^ "Harry Holland". HeraldScotland.