A CELEBRATION event in Bradford will mark the third anniversary of a charity-funded hospital set up in north Pakistan after a decade of funding.

The Midland Doctors Association (MDA) opened its medical institute in the city of Muzaffarabad in 2012 to offer free healthcare to the district's residents after the area was decimated by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

With the help of £81,707 raised by the Telegraph & Argus through its South Asia Earthquake appeal between October 2005 and November 2007, the MDA opened its £2.3 million facility in August 2013.

HOSPITAL IS PROOF OF CITY'S GENEROSITY

To mark three years of operation for the hospital, the MDA is holding a lunch at the Royal Taj Restaurant, in Manningham Lane, on April 17.

Dr Asrar Rashid, executive secretary of the MDA, said the charity built the hospital to offer free-at-the-point-of-need, "NHS-style" healthcare to provide care for the people of the district long after the emergency charities had left.

He said: "Fundraisers across the UK, including Bradford, where the Telegraph & Argus provided a notable contribution, allowed us to build the hospital in Muzaffarabad to provide free medical care to the poor of the region.

"There are two wards at the hospital at this stage, one of which is named after the T&A as a thank you for their generosity."

The T&A started its fundraising campaign following the earthquake after being moved by the plight of the communities left devastated by the disaster.

Many people in Bradford had friends or family killed or hurt in the earthquake.

Perry Austin-Clarke, editor of the Telegraph & Argus, remembers the reaction of the people of Bradford following the tragedy.

He said: "The response of readers to the devastation caused by the earthquakes was phenomenal; there was genuine shock and grief and the community rallied round to organise fundraising events as well as donating their hard-earned cash and the total raised was remarkable.

"At the time, we were advised that the Disasters Emergency Committee had enough funding for immediate relief and we wanted to ensure there was a lasting benefit from the generous efforts of Bradfordians, so we were thrilled when we found out about the plans to build a new hospital.

"It's fantastic that it's now celebrating its third anniversary and the fact that thousands of patients have now benefited from its services is a huge testament to the kindness and concern of the many readers who contributed to the T&A appeal."

The MDA charity was set up following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, which killed 87,000 people, injured another 75,000 and displaced 2.8 million people.

The epicentre of the quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, was close to Muzaffarabad, causing the city's hospitals and many other buildings to be completely flattened.

Since the Midland Doctors Medical Institute opened, the hospital has provided over 68,000 people with free medical care, as well as offering training to local people and specialist treatment camps.

Dr Rashid said: "The first basic skills course was lead by our chairman Dr Syed Yusuf Iftikhar, who is a consultant surgeon at Royal Derby Hospital.

"In March 2015 he led a basic surgical skills course for doctors and paramedics at MDMI, and also led a basic keyhole surgery course in August 2015.

"Dr Viquar Qurashi, who is a surgeon at Russell Hall Hospital in Birmingham also led an orthopaedic and fracture management workshop in November for a large group of people from across the region."

MDMI also held two eye camps, in January and August 2015, treating more than 1,800 people across the two camps.

"One case that left a lasting memory was that of a 14-year-old girl who had gone blind aged 12 and so stopped attending school," said Dr Rashid.

"She was operated on at MDMI and got her eyesight back, which was a very emotional moment for her father and for the MDMI team as well!"

Another remarkable step made by the MDMI involved a sixth form student from Watford Grammar School for Boys and his 3D printer.

Hamza Rashid, who has family ties in Bradford, made a prosthetic hand using a 3D printer which was sent to the MDMI to be given to a man who lost his hand.

He said: "It's the first version that I printed at home; it cost me about £60 to make which is a fraction of how much hospital provided hands can cost.

"The amazing thing about the 3D printer is that we can scale the design to fit the patient, here in the UK. MDMI just emails over the measurements, and we can do everything remotely."

For more information about the charity, to donate, or for information about the update lunch on April 17, e-mail support@midlanddoctors.org.