Pak-Christians in Thailand need urgent medical support

By Christian Malik

I woke up early in the morning and braced myself for a long journey to the outskirts of Bangkok. Dao Khanong Pinkala Hospital was my destination and a mother and daughter infected by Tuberculosis were waiting for me.  It was a tiring day but time I was willing to spend in helping them. When Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of BPCA, visited Thailand he witnessed the lives of poor Pakistani Christians living here. We have tried to do something to help them from providing food packages to 40 families on World Refugee Day to paying for an operation for Salmoon Barkat who had a nasty skin infection.  We also gave an underprivileged family one week’s worth of groceries, but still the need is great and there is much of it that goes unmet.

Two months ago, Robin Riaz contacted Wilson on Facebook and explained to him his problem. Robin Riaz had been in Thailand for over a year and had run into difficulties after his baby daughter Zandra was born.  His wife Sumera Umer was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and  as a result was advised not to continue breastfeeding Zandra. She was also feeling unwell after the birth and needed further tests.  Robin had no means by which to pay for the expensive medical procedures and so he contacted BPCA.  We promised him we would meet the medical costs for the baby and mother and would also provide them with some milk and nappies so I met Robin on  20th June and bought the family one month supply of nappies and infant milk powder.

The total cost was £28 and BPCA was able to cover that. I promised we would cover future medical costs for his wife and daughter and so in order to do so I met Robin again on July 20th 2015.

We have been dismayed since we cannot raise much by way of donations for our Thailand mission and there are many more people in need. With what donations we had, I paid the family’s medical costs, spending all day from morning to evening at the hospital with them.  The medical tests and tuberculosis medicine cost £25 and I gladly paid it from the donations that BPCA supporters were able to raise.


Sumera Umer, Robin’s wife with Zandra, their 2 month old daughter born here in Thailand.


Sumera had a test for cancer of the uterus but we were very relieved, praise God, that it came back negative.

         
Sumera was prescribed medicine to take for the TB. The doctors have prescribed anti TB medicine for baby Zandra also as a precaution but sadly due to lack of funding we could not pay for it.


Later we went to Big C, a local superstore, to purchase nappies and formula and Riaz Masih, Robin’s father accompanied us.
It was difficult for Sumera to walk while holding the baby but we could not afford expensive transport such as a taxi so we had to use to the local bus.  We reached BIg C after spending 6 hours at the hospital and I was exhausted, tired and hungry but maintained a healthy smile in front of the family encouraging them through this tough time. 


Riaz Masih with his daughter-in-law Sumera and grandaughter Zandra.



Christian buying milk and nappies for baby Zandra


Before they left I prayed with the family and for their safety during their journey home. Sumera needs to continue to take her prescription for 18 months to ensure that she is totally rid of the TB. The BPCA was able to provide only 3 months worth of medicine and we need a regular commitment by someone to help pay for Sumera to continue her course of treatment, and for baby Zandra to have the precautionary medicine she also requires.

BPCA team was very glad to help this underprivileged family but is still hoping for more donations. Previous appeals made for a cancer patient and an ex-pharmacist who waits for diagnosis remain unattended. The condition of both patients is deteriorating with every passing day. The total medical cost for the the cancer patient is £2000 whereas the cost for diagnosis tests of the ex-pharmacist is about £200. This is the cost for saving 2 innocent lives who struggle to make ends meet. The struggle between life and death continues with BPCA trying with its utmost efforts to try and save as many lives as possible.

Please Pray:

For Sumera to recover well from TB and to have her ongoing medication that she requires
For baby Zara to have the preventative medicine she needs to ensure she doesn’t contract TB also

Thank God that He will comfort, bless and provide for the refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand

Pray that the Thai authorities would stop detaining asylum seekers and refugees and that UNHCR would speed up their applications for resettlement

Please will you help us to ease the burdens of these refugees and asylum
seekers in Thailand?  Your gift really can make a difference.  

Please give using these bank details:

Payee: BPCA

Sort Code: 20-44-22
Account number: 43163318
Bank: Barclays

Ref:  Love for Pakistani Christians in Thailand

For international donations please use these details:

IBAN:  GB62 BARC 20442243163318

SWIFTBIC: BARCGB22

Alternatively
if you would like to send a one off donation please use the PayPal
facility on the top right hand corner of our blog, our PayPal email
address is info@britishpakistanichristians.org.


Any cheques should be made payable to the BPCA
to our address: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG.

With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Christians in Pakistan