Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Billoo

A renowned paediatrician currently associated with Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Billoo is founder Member and Chairman Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS), one of the most active NGO, working in the rural and urban areas of Sindh. He was awarded with Sitara-i-Imtiaz for public services the most prestigious civilian award by President of Pakistan in March 2007.

He graduated from Dow Medical College Karachi in 1959. Soft-hearted, Dr Billoo was distressed at the high rate of infant mortality in Pakistan. He went to UK and obtained Diploma in Child Health (DCH) & MRCP from Glasgow and FRCP from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK in 1986. He was the first Asian to have been appointed Child Specialist in Scotland. However, he preferred to serve the children of his own country and therefore, returned to Pakistan.

After returning to Pakistan, he worked as Honorary Registrar and later worked as Research Physician in which capacity he carried out research on 500 cases. This was the largest research work which has been undertaken by a single person. He worked in various hospitals in Karachi and finally became the Principal of Dow Medical College in which capacity he looked after the Children Ward of the Civil Hospital.

Dr Billoo tested the oral therapy in cases of diarrhoea in children very successfully. He submitted his findings and report on oral therapy to the World Health Organisation. He was made member of the Global Advisory Committee on diarrhoea and his suggestions to give patients ORS was accepted. He set up camps in the remote Thar area of Sindh, where with his colleagues he provided medical treatment to local patients.

Dr. Billoo has presented more than hundred papers in various national and international conferences/seminars/ symposiums and there are more than two dozen publications of international repute to his credit.

He has served as Professor and Head of the Paediatrics Department, Dow Medical College. He remained as Dean Faculty of Medicine, University of Karachi for three years. He is also advisor/member of many national and international organizations boards/ agencies.

About HANDS

HANDS, has evolved in three decades as one of the largest Non-Profit Organization of the country with integrated development model. HANDS, has a network of 30 offices across the country and has access to more than 16.2 million population nearly 20,274 villages/ settlement in 34 districts of Pakistan. HANDS strength is 18 volunteers Board Members, more than 1502 full time staff and nearly one million community based volunteers of 5205 medium and small size organizations.

HANDS Pakistan is registered under Societies Act, is certified by Pakistan Centre of Philanthropy (PCP) and Tax exempted by Income Tax Department Government of Pakistan. HANDS, has qualified the Institutional Management Program (IMCP) of USAID of management standards. HANDS, is accredited with European Union. HANDS also possess membership with Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP). HANDS International recently established its office in London, United Kingdom. HANDS international –UK is registered as Non-Profit Organization in Companies Act 2006 of England and Wales.