Sir Henry Holland Mission Eye Hospital, also known as Sir Henry Eye Clinic, Mission Eye Hospital, and Hiranand Charitable Eye Hospital, is an eye hospital located in Shikarpur, Sindh.[1][2] It is named after Sir Henry Holland.[3][4]

History

The inception of Sir Henry Holland Mission Eye Hospital can be traced back to 1909 when a philanthropist, Hiranand, invited Sir Henry Holland to establish a medical facility in Shikarpur.[2][5] Hiranand provided land, construction resources, and a sustenance fund for the patient and their companions.[1] Holland accepted, on the condition that the local community leaders consented to the project, and he retained the freedom to practice his faith and preach outside his professional environment.[1]

The proposal was initially met with substantial opposition due to Holland's affiliation with a Christian mission, raising religious concerns among the Hindu and Muslim communities.[1] Hiranand, however, challenged the objectors to find a doctor with the same caliber and commitment as Holland who was not Christian.[1] Hiranand eventually succeeded, leading to the establishment of an annual eye clinic in Shikarpur, starting from 1910.[1]

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s Holland's pioneering contributions in ophthalmology drew international attention.[1] Physicians and surgeons from the United Kingdom, Europe, and as far as the United States, Canada, and Australia came to learn and practice at the hospital.[1] This influx of global expertise transformed the hospital into a leading eye care facility.[1]

Hiranand, until his untimely death in 1913, bequeathed an endowment of Rs100,000 (approximating Rs105 million in 21st century) to sustain the clinic and cover staff expenses.[1]

After formally retiring in 1948, Holland transferred the administrative reins of the mission hospitals in Quetta and Shikarpur to his son, Harry Henry.[6][1] Nevertheless, he continued to perform eye surgeries at Shikarpur until 1956, reflecting his unflagging dedication to the cause of ocular health.[1]

Since its foundation more than 150,000 eye operations have been performed.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Khan, Mahmood Hasan (June 5, 2016). "Tribute: The miracle of sight". DAWN.COM.
  2. 1 2 3 Khan, Shameen (May 21, 2015). "Sir Henry's forgotten dream". DAWN.COM.
  3. ↑ Dow, Huch (1966). "Obituary". Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society. 53: 109–111. doi:10.1080/03068376608731940.
  4. ↑ Rasheed, Shaikh Abdul (August 7, 2020). "Saving Eyes in Quetta, Shikarpur and Beyond".
  5. ↑ "A historic hospital". DAWN.COM. May 14, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Harry Holland". HeraldScotland.

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