Pakistani father makes emotional appeal for son’s treatment in London

Mohammad Safwan Zaman. Photo: Reporter

LONDON: A seven-year-old child from Quetta is in London for treatment for a complex heart condition that doctors said cannot be started unless he has at least £80,000 in his bank account for expenses for treatment.

Mohammad Safwan Zaman’s father, Haji Gul Zaman brought his son to London two weeks ago after selling their family home in Quetta.

Zaman was able to raise £40,000 but doctors at the Harley Street Clinic have told him that he needs an additional £40,000 for his son’s treatment.

Safwan has a complex cardiac defect which requires medical and surgical care in order to protect his heart and lung circulation from ongoing damage.

Safwan was initially being treated at Karachi’s Agha Khan Hospital by cardiac surgeon Professor Saleem Akhtar. The professor had told the family that Safwa could not be treated in Pakistan and recommended taking him to London.

The British High Commission in Pakistan issued the visa to the father and son after getting confirmation from the hospital.

“Doctors told me that the cost of the treatment is £40,000 but now a different price has been quoted after the examination at Harley Street Clinic. Doctors have advised us that Safwan should be treated as soon as possible before developing more and incurable complications,” Gul Zaman told Geo News.

The father said that his son’s treatment was scheduled to start on December 19 but due to insufficient funds it had to be delayed. “Before I travelled to the UK I was told that it would cost £40,000. It was very hard for me to arrange this amount but I sold my property and managed it. I have no idea what I will do to arrange the remaining amount. I don’t know anyone in this country. I will appeal for help from anyone,” appealed the father.

Zaman explained that his son’s heart valves are overlapped; red and white cells are dysfunctional and haphazard; and his son has breathing issues all the time.

“It saddens me to see that my son wants to play but can't play; he wants to ride on a bike but can't,” said the father.

Dr Alessandro Giardini and Dr Martin Kostolny, Consultant Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeons at the Harley Street Clinic, said in a report the young patient tends to sweat easily and cannot exercise and when active tends to complain of breathlessness and chest pain.

The doctors have told the family that “this is a very complex anatomy and this is something that is very difficult to repair.”

Zaman is currently staying with a friend in East London’s Ilford area. He can be reached at zgul43000@gmail.com and +447448643749