Transcript Speech of the President APMA Dr. Sayeed Khan (Meet and Greet Lunch at Zaaffran - Darling Harbour Sydney on Sunday, 18 May 2014
Good afternoon and Assalam-alaikum,
I would like to first acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we
are meeting and pay my respects to their Elders, past and present.
Dear Australia Pakistan Medical Association members, their families, my
respected colleagues, our
Chief Guest for the 4th Meet n Greet function, Dr Mehreen Farouqi. Member of
Parliament The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane and Consul General Aziz Uqaili. I would also like to acknowledge
Hafiz
Shahid, Present of Pakistan Association.
Hamid Khan from Edhi Foundation,
Miss Rachel Cruz from FLOW international
Ejaz Khan, from Pakistan Australia Association
Mohammed Asif from CitiLink and
Zafar Hussain from Sada-e-Watan.
And all other distinguished guests.
On behalf of APMA, I welcome you all to our 4th Meet and Greet Function.
APMA is extremely proud in bringing all medical professionals in NSW together on
1 platform. For one voice, for the vision to provide leadership, support and
guidance to pursue and enhance a members academic objectives and excellence,
professional goals and service to our communities, with a high standard. APMA
aims to involve all Pakistani medical community and their families in social
cohesion, cultural activities and community work.
I will now invite APMA’s General Secretary, Shams Ul Arifeen to say a few words.
*According to a study conducted by the UN, 40% of deaths in Pakistan are due to
contaminated water.
*250000 children under the age of 5, die every year due to unsafe water.
These alarming statistics reinforce that the provision of clean water is the
most important medical need which can prevent loss of life and other illnesses
on a very large scale. I am sure you have not forgotten the recent crisis in
Thar Desert. APMA has formed a partnership with FLOW international to provide a
water Filtration plant in Thar desert, the area of extreme need for clean water.
Those who have already donated for this cause, I thank you all on behalf of
APMA. I urge all others to donate as soon as possible.
I will now invite Rachel Cruz from Flow international to provide a brief
introduction to our project.
I will now invite Shaoquett Moselmane to say a few words…….
I will now invite Aziz Uqaili the Consul General of Pakistan to say a few
words……
Now I will ask Dr Mehreen Farouqi, our Guest of Honour to come to the stage.
Dr Mehreen Farouqi is a Pakistani born, Australian politician. She is a Greens
member of the NSW Legislative Council and is the first Muslim female elected to
any Australian Parliament. Dr Farouqi studied at the University of Engineering
and Technology in Lahore, and worked as a consultant in Pakistan before moving
to Sydney in 1992. Here, she received a Masters and PhD in Environmental
engineering from the University of NSW. She was Academic director of the Master
of Business and technology program and an associate professor at the Australian
graduate school of management for the University of NSW. She joined the Greens
in 2004 and in parliament, she has carriage of the following portfolios for the
party; Animal Welfare, Environment, Healthy Lifestyles, Marine Environment and
Fisheries,Multiculturism, Roads and Ports, Sexuality and Gender Identity, Status of Women,
Transport and young people.
There are a number of outstanding Pakistani medical professionals who have been
serving the Australian community and have left a great legacy of their
commitment and dedication in providing the best health care to their patients.
Every year APMA presents a token of our appreciation to these doctors to
acknowledge their achievements and contributions to Australian communities.
First of all we will recognise the students who have recently joined the medical
profession.
1. Angelique Javed: she has just graduated from her Masters of Pharmacy and is
completing her intern year.
Allied Health
1. Nadeem Sheikh
Special Award:
1. Madiha Khan
General Practitioners.
1. Dr Shaukat Javed
2. Dr Mohammad Amjad
3. Dr Riaz Malik
4. Dr Mushtaq Malik
5. Dr Danish Khan
6. Dr Midhat Syed
7. Dr Samreen Kassam
8. Dr Sabahat Mahmoud
9. Dr Mazen Khan
10. Dr Sayeed Khan
11. Ghazala Khan
Specialists
1. Dr Irfan Noor Psychiatrist
2. Dr Talat Uppal Gynaecologist
3. Dr Nadir Hafiz Psychiatrist
4. Dr Aslam Chaudhary Psychiatrist
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr Halima Qureshi
Very few people are blessed with the ability to weave their average life into
silk, whilst still displaying the humility of keeping their eyes focused on the
humble ground upon which they tread. Such person is Dr Halima Qureshi. Dr
Qureshi graduated from Fatima Jinnah college in Lahore and came to Australia in
1960 with her husband Marghoob Qureshi. In early 60s, Pakistani medical
qualifications were not recognised by the AMC. With her husband’s support, she
lodged a case for recognition for her degree and won the case successfully and
was allowed to sit her AMC exam due to this breakthrough case. Through this she
cleared a pathway for many to follow. Her work continued at Royal Sydney
Hospital, then moved to gain employment at Long Bay Correctional Facility then
the Water Board, allowing her to balance both her career and family.APMA highly
recognises Dr Halima’s determination, hard work and service to the Australian
community and award her a lifetime achievement award.
Dr Shabbir Haider
Dr Shabbir Haider graduated from King Edward Medical College, Lahore and worked
in Mayo and General headquarter hospital in Rawalpindi then moved to Australia
in 1971. Dr Haider worked in Port Kembla hospital then joined General practice
in Wollongong, where he continues to practice. He is an examiner at Royal
College of General Practitioners, Senior Lecturer at University of Wollongong
school of Medicine. And also supervises overseas trained doctors regularly. Dr
Haider was the founding member of Illawara Muslim society, the Pakistan
Association NSW. He worked with Pakistan Medical association and was the
founding member of Urdu society of Australia, with
close association with international Urdu Association, the Muhammadi Welfare
Association of the Pakistan Association of Wollongong. Dr Shabbir Haider is a
poet as well, with his inspiration coming from his uncle, Syed Zamir Jafri. He
has released his first poetry book, Sarmaya in 2009.
Dr Madni
Closing
I thank you all for coming today and highly appreciate that you have come on
this Sunday afternoon to APMA’s meet n greet function an outstanding success.
Thank you all.
