Karachi, December 27: Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) held a certificate distribution ceremony for 140 volunteer students who successfully completed a week-long, 30-hour community service program at the institute.
The main purpose of this biannual volunteer program is to develop a sense of community service, empathy, and social responsibility among students studying at matriculation, intermediate, and O/A Level. The program is designed to help students become responsible and caring members of society when they enter their professional lives.
During the week-long program, students were introduced to the realities of healthcare services and were encouraged to develop compassion for underprivileged patients. They attended interactive lectures delivered by SIUT’s experts on important topics such as kidney function, kidney failure and dialysis, infection control and personal hygiene, robotic surgery, urology, organ donation, liver diseases, gastroenterology, pediatric cardiology, heart diseases and echocardiography, diet and nutrition, psychology, patient safety, quality assurance, and the responsible use of media.
The participants also attended sessions at the Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture (CBEC), where they learned about ethical practices in healthcare. In addition, the students attended a dedicated lecture on SIUT’s digital library, which further enhanced their learning experience.
As part of the training, students visited different departments of the institute, including transplant services, dialysis units, robotic surgery, nursing, radiology, radiotherapy, and medical social welfare. Through direct interaction with patients, doctors, and paramedical staff, they gained a better understanding of patient care and teamwork. The students also visited the Maryam Bashir Dawood Children’s Hospital to observe pediatric healthcare services.
The volunteer program was started in 2006 and is held during summer and winter vacations. Over the years, it has received an encouraging response from students. To date, 7,500 students have successfully completed the program.
Throughout the program, participants were introduced to SIUT’s core philosophy of providing quality healthcare completely free of cost and without any discrimination based on caste, color, creed, or financial status.
The concluding ceremony was attended by parents, SIUT faculty members, and representatives from various educational institutions. Students, parents, and teachers appreciated the initiative, stating that such programs help reduce human suffering and promote empathy, ethical values, and social awareness in society.
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