KARACHI: The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Friday held a certificate distribution ceremony for 140 volunteer students who successfully completed a week-long, 30-hour community service program at the institute.
The biannual volunteer program aims to develop a sense of community service, empathy, and social responsibility among students from matriculation, intermediate, and O/A Level backgrounds, preparing them to become responsible and socially conscious individuals in their future professional lives.
During the program, students were exposed to various aspects of healthcare delivery and encouraged to develop compassion for underprivileged patients.
They attended interactive lectures by SIUT experts on subjects including kidney function, dialysis, infection control, personal hygiene, robotic surgery, urology, organ donation, liver diseases, gastroenterology, pediatric cardiology, heart diseases, echocardiography, diet and nutrition, psychology, patient safety, quality assurance, and responsible use of media.
Participants also attended sessions at the Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture (CBEC), focusing on ethical practices in healthcare. In addition, a dedicated lecture on SIUT’s digital library was arranged to enhance students’ academic learning.
As part of practical exposure, students visited various departments of the institute, including transplant services, dialysis units, robotic surgery, nursing, radiology, radiotherapy, and medical social welfare, and interacted directly with patients, doctors, and paramedical staff. The students also visited the Maryam Bashir Dawood Children’s Hospital to observe pediatric healthcare services.
The volunteer program, which began in 2006, is organized during summer and winter vacations and has received an encouraging response over the years. To date, approximately 7,500 students have completed the program.
Throughout the program, participants were introduced to SIUT’s core philosophy of providing quality healthcare completely free of cost, without discrimination on the basis of caste, color, creed, or financial status.
The concluding ceremony was attended by parents, SIUT faculty members, and representatives of educational institutions. Parents, students, and teachers appreciated the initiative, stating that such programs help promote empathy, ethical values, and social awareness in society.
