(above) Khadeejah and her grandfather
A kind-hearted Bradford Hospitals team is helping to put smiles on children’s faces in Pakistan after donating old orthotic equipment to the Khadeejah Children’s Care Centre in Pakistan.
Orthotics Clinical Lead, Lisa Buckley, and Orthotist, Biko Bourgeois, were inspired to get involved after a chance meeting with a patient and her family during an appointment at the team’s base in West Riding House.
Lisa said: “I first became aware of the Khadeejah Children’s Care Centre in August 2024, when Khadeejah, 7, and her parents attended an appointment with me.
“Khadeejah has some very complex needs and has been under the care of orthotics for several years. Her parents mentioned that they had opened a centre in Jhelum (where her family is from), to cater for children like Khadeejah with disabilities, who otherwise would not be able to access such a service due to poverty and distance. The centre also provides respite to families and siblings.”
Khadeejah’s parents, who live in BD5, asked Lisa if there were any old orthotics that were no longer used, that could be donated to the centre, as appliances, components and materials are expensive and hard to come by in Pakistan.
Khadeejah’s dad, Amir Idris, explained: “The centre is entirely funded by our family so any help with donations of equipment is appreciated as costing of supplies adds to the overall expense. The quality of equipment and orthotics is also not on par with what we find here in the UK and is of very low quality in Pakistan.
“We opened the centre because the village has a high number of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and of the roughly 174 disabled children currently registered, the vast majority have physical disabilities caused by CP.
“We have now had to cap the number of children that we can help to 100, due to reaching capacity and currently the remaining 74 are on a waiting list. These children have benefited massively from the in-house physiotherapy team and the orthotics team that comes in from Lahore once a month.”
Since opening in May 2024, 98 children have been provided with orthotics.
Amir continued: “All the families that come to the centre are extremely poor, some live in poverty and simply cannot afford food let alone medical treatment. There are government-funded hospitals but these are far from the village and most villagers cannot afford to make the costly trips.”
After a quick look around the team’s stores, Lisa found a couple of old pairs of children’s orthotics boots – that would ordinarily be thrown away as they are for single patient use – and happily donated them.
“I asked if they could make use of other orthotics and was told they would be gratefully received as components and materials can all be recycled and reused, she added.
Since then, the orthotics team and Khadeejah’s family have bult up a close relationship and the team continues to donate old, single use equipment which the Trust is unable to use again
“Most of these have been issued to patients here at the clinic,” stated Lisa “but have been returned either unused or in good condition.
“So far we have donated footwear, arm, ankle, hand and feet supports, and anything else that is in in a good, clean, useable condition. Biko and I are extremely passionate about our work and knowing our donations are making such a difference to other children’s lives is amazing.”
Lisa and Biko receive regular updates from Khadeejah’s parents about the Centre and how our donations are helping these children and will continue to support this amazing project.
Khadeejah’s dad thanked Lisa and Biko for their help and said the donations would make “a life-changing difference.”
“We have already seen several children take their first steps once receiving foot splints or specialist shoes from our centre and we are certain that we will see the same success with orthotics donated by Bradford hospitals,” he continued. “We will, of course, keep you updated on the progress.
“I am so grateful for the support you’ve already shown this project. We started this as a legacy to our daughter Khadeejah, to give back to a community which doesn’t have the same access to basic health care as we do, and we have seen it go strength to strength since its opening.
The Centre is spacious at 4,000sq feet and separate office accommodation in a separate outbuilding. For more information on its’ work please go to: khadeejahcare.com
