Making Quality Healthcare Accessible for All in District Orakzai

For five years, every day was a struggle for 46-year-old Aliya Bibi, a resident of District Orakzai. Persistent and heavy bleeding gradually took a devastating toll on her health and wellbeing. What began as a medical problem soon became a daily battle that affected every aspect of her life. She became increasingly weak, struggled to carry out routine household responsibilities, and lived with the constant anxiety of her condition worsening. Despite seeking treatment and taking various medications over the years, her symptoms persisted, leaving her with little hope of recovery.

When Aliya Bibi finally arrived at THQ Hospital Ghiljo, her condition had become critical. Years of continuous blood loss had left her severely anemic and physically exhausted. In addition to her ongoing illness, she was also living with diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, making her case particularly complex and significantly increasing the risks associated with treatment. After a thorough clinical assessment and careful pre-operative preparation, the medical team determined that a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) offered the only realistic solution to end her years of suffering and restore her health. Given her multiple health conditions, the surgery required meticulous planning, close coordination among the surgical and anesthesia teams, and a high level of clinical expertise.

The nearly three-hour procedure was successfully led by Dr. Iram Usman (Gynaecologist), with the dedicated support of the surgical and anesthesia teams. Through their professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to patient care, the operation was completed safely despite the significant clinical challenges.

Today, Aliya Bibi is recovering well. The bleeding that had overshadowed her life for years has finally stopped. She is steadily regaining her strength, recovering comfortably, and looking forward to returning to her family and resuming the life that her illness had taken away from her. Her care will continue beyond surgery, with ongoing support to manage her diabetes, blood pressure, and other health needs, ensuring a healthier future and an improved quality of life.

For patients living in remote and underserved districts such as Orakzai, access to specialized surgical care has historically been limited, often requiring costly and time-consuming travel to tertiary hospitals. The support provided by the KP Health Foundation to MERF is helping change this reality. By investing in strengthening healthcare services at public hospitals such as THQ Hospital Ghiljo, the KP Health Foundation is enabling district-level facilities to provide safe, high-quality, and life-saving care closer to where people live. Improved infrastructure, enhanced service delivery, and stronger clinical capacity are allowing patients to receive timely treatment within their own communities, reducing both the financial and emotional burden on families.