Henry Holland Mission Eye Hospital | |
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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 |
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]
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]