ABOUT US
Friends of Little Hearts (FLH)
Welcome to Friends of Little Hearts (FLH), a registered non-profit charity organization based in Karachi. We are dedicated to addressing a critical gap in healthcare by providing comprehensive facilities for children with heart diseases at Dr. K.M. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. In the past, due to the lack of pediatric cardiology facilities in the hospital, sick children with heart ailments were often forced to be referred to other hospitals with the necessary expertise.
Recognizing this urgent need, FLH took proactive measures to secure funds and acquire state-of-the-art echocardiography equipment. This enabled us to initiate crucial diagnostic tests for children with heart diseases at the hospital. In June 2021, we accomplished a significant milestone by introducing the first-ever echocardiography service exclusively dedicated to children in the hospital.
This initiative not only addressed an immediate need but also catalyzed the demand for an inpatient service exclusively dedicated to Pediatric Cardiology in the hospital. Through the generous assistance of the Ibrahim Sattar family, who laid the foundation of Paediatric Cardiology Unit in 2010. Later, FLH formed a strategic collaboration with the Dow ’97 Foundation, synergizing efforts to transform our visionary goal into a tangible reality. On December 29th, 2022, our collaborative endeavor came to fruition with the inauguration of the comprehensive and state-of-the-art Pediatric Cardiology HDU.
The establishment of the Pediatric Cardiology HDU was well received and supported by the hospital management, as evident through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalized on April 6th, 2022, solidifying their sustained support during the early stages of this critical initiative.
Since then, by the grace of Almighty, our services have been running efficiently and we have been treating patients from all over the province and beyond. We cater to patients from the OPD, patients referred from various departments within the hospital, and also receive cases from other hospitals in the city.
At Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Hospital in Karachi, we currently provide the following facilities to all children, free of cost:
– Pediatric Cardiac High Dependency Unit (HDU)
– Cardiology consultations
– Echocardiograms
– 12 lead ECGs
– Pre-surgical cardiac fitness assessments
– Liaison and referral to tertiary care cardiology services
Looking ahead, FLH remains committed to delivering holistic healthcare and maximizing the capacity of our ward. To achieve this, we seek support in acquiring additional space to enhance our inpatient facility. Moreover, our vision includes introducing advanced modalities such as Foetal Echocardiograms and Cardiac Catheterization, further improving our service efficiency. We call upon esteemed higher management and our dedicated donors to continue partnering with us in achieving these significant milestones. Together, let us shape the future of healthcare and elevate our commitment to excellence.
The establishment of pediatric cardiology facilities at Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi is just the beginning of FLH’s journey. Our objective is to create a comprehensive facility that provides sustained, professional support free of cost to sick children with heart ailments. FLH’s vision extends beyond this milestone, aiming to bridge additional areas of required facilities in the future. With no limits to what we can achieve together, let us strive to make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.
Naheed Maher
CEO Friends of Little Hearts
MESSAGE from Dr. Naheed Maher CEO Friends of Little Hearts
I am extremely grateful to Allah Almighty for blessing us with the opportunity to complete two years of treating children with heart conditions at Civil Hospital Karachi through Friends of Little Hearts.
What began as a voluntary echocardiography service with a borrowed machine in a room at the Trauma Centre in November 2021 has now blossomed into a full-fledged service. Since its inception, we have provided over 1,000 echocardiograms, treated more than 150 children in a well-equipped and well-staffed Cardiac High Dependency Unit, and offered ECGs, consultations, and expert opinions. Additionally, we have established a liaison with tertiary care cardiology centers to facilitate patient referrals for interventions. Alhamdulillah, our work speaks for itself!
The concept behind Friends of Little Hearts was initiated alongside the echocardiography service. Registering with the relevant government regulatory authorities was essential, but in the current environment, registering a not-for-profit organization like ours is no easy task. The process is extremely cumbersome, involving numerous legalities and extensive paperwork. There were many instances where our hard work was rejected, forcing us to start over. Yet, thanks to the determination and perseverance of our team, we successfully achieved registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Sindh Charities Commission (SCC) after months of effort.
Once registered, the next step was acquiring bank accounts to legally collect and manage funds, which presented its own set of challenges. Our hard work and perseverance paid off, and after months of waiting, rejection, and disappointment, we accomplished this milestone. Following this, we also secured an MoU with the I-Care Foundation, enabling us to receive funds from abroad.
To ensure a Shariah-compliant mechanism for Zakat disbursement, we engaged a Shariah Advisor affiliated with Darul Iftah, who is registered with SECP.
Although we are still in our infancy, our journey has not been without challenges, as evident from the hurdles described above. When we began this work, many people told us that registering an NGO was impossible and that opening a bank account in the current environment would be unachievable. I am deeply grateful to those who trusted and believed in our ability to overcome these obstacles. Alhamdulillah, we have completed our second year, having successfully navigated these challenges.
However, I must address a concerning issue: it is disheartening that some organizations are attempting to take credit for our work by including it in their social media profiles and audit meetings. Let me be clear: we will not tolerate such actions. As a legally registered organization, we are fully capable of taking legal action, and we will not hesitate to do so if necessary.
None of this would have been possible without the help and prayers of our well-wishers. Throughout our journey, Allah has provided us with the means and support we needed. For instance, we were fortunate to receive assistance from the higher authorities of Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital and Dow University of Health Sciences, who have supported us every step of the way. In the early stages, our project was funded by the DUHS alumni group, Dow 97 Foundation, which served as a crucial building block for us.
In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and support staff, who tirelessly serve on the front lines day and night.
We look forward to your continued support for our cause.
Prof. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Quraishy
Meritorious Professor of Surgery and Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences.
MESSAGE from Patron-in-Chief of Friends of Little Hearts
I am truly honoured to serve as the Patron-in-Chief of Friends of Little Hearts, and I wholeheartedly support their mission and vision for future growth and impact.
It has become a cherished tradition for Dow alumni to unite in support of their alma mater, especially during milestone anniversaries. In keeping with this spirit, “Friends of Little Hearts” was established to fill a critical gap in paediatric cardiology services at Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi. This initiative was spearheaded by Dr. Naheed Maher, a Dow alumna who, after completing her specialization in the UK, returned with a fresh perspective and a clear vision. Recognizing the pressing need for dedicated paediatric cardiology care, she discussed her ideas with her classmates, the Dow class of 1997, and together, they turned this vision into reality in a remarkably short period.
A dedicated team of like-minded individuals soon joined forces, and their collective efforts have been nothing short of inspiring. From establishing a state-of-the-art High Dependency Unit (HDU) to offering specialized paediatric cardiac investigations and organizing innovative training workshops, they have made remarkable progress.
I hope this initiative inspires others to create positive change for patients in need. May the tradition of giving back continue, and may Dow University of Health Sciences continue to produce not only skilled clinicians but also compassionate doctors with a deep commitment to their institution and their country.