The Hindu : `A matter of pride for Indian doctors'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 25, 2003

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`A matter of pride for Indian doctors'

By Our Staff Reporter

Actor-turned-politician Sunil Dutt with the Pakistani child, Noor Fatima, at the Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore on Thursday. Noor's parents, Nadeem Sajjad and Tayyaba Nadeem, are behind him. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE JULY 24. Sunil Dutt, actor and MP, paid a visit to the Narayana Hrudayalaya to see the Pakistani child, Noor Fatima, and her parents, here today.

Mr. Dutt, accompanied by Devi Shetty, Chairman of the hospital, and a posse of policemen, spent about 10 minutes with Noor and her parents — Nadeem Sajjad and Tayyaba Nadeem.

Mr. Dutt told presspersons that he had arrived here for an Urdu teachers' conference on Friday and wanted to see Noor.

The surgery on her and similar operations were to the nation's credit and "a matter of pride for Indian doctors," he said.

He appreciated the efforts of the doctors at the hospital and said the smiles on the faces of her parents were proof of the care given to Noor.

People called him a ``shanti dooth'' (messenger of peace) "but I wish and hope that when Noor goes back, she will tell her fellow countrymen that Indians are good people," Mr. Dutt said. Dr. Shetty informed him that five children from Tanzania would reach the hospital for treatment this weekend.

Asked for his reaction to the negative fallout of the publicity surrounding Noor's case, Dr. Shetty said: "I am only a doctor. When there is pain, I treat it."

The hospital had not allowed any visitors or media coverage without the concurrence of the parents, he stressed.

Meanwhile, Junaid Khalid, an eight-and-a-half-year-old boy from Pakistan, was admitted to the hospital, Dr. Shetty said.

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