The Pakistan-born Danish orthopaedic surgeon Sajida Afzal has been awarded “Hero of the Year Award 2011” in Denmark for building an orthopaedic children’s hospital in Pakistan. 

She left her prestigious job in Denmark to pursue her dream of building a quality children hospital in Pakistan. Sajida’s first experience of working in Pakistan was during the 2005 earthquake when she volunteered to help operate on thousands of people who had been injured during the disastrous earthquake. “I was deeply affected by seeing all these people in pain and agony and I got a feeling that people in Pakistan needed me and how much one could accomplish with few resources,” said Sajida while talking to this scribe.

“Sajida Afzal is an inspiration to others with her efforts, and she is a hero in the true sense, because she has put her own comfort and needs aside to step up and help where need is greatest,” said Hanne Bech Hansen, former police director in Copenhagen and jury member, when she handed Sajida flowers, diploma, silver bowl and the award money. Sajida Afzal was nominated for the ‘Year 2011 Hero award’ along with nine other people who in various ways have put themselves at the expense of others either by saving lives, or by making an extraordinary contribution to society.

(contd)

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