Prof. Sadiqua N. Jafarey President National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health (NCMNH) convened a condolences meeting for Dr. Faridon Setna Ex Advisor NCMNH, on Friday 21st May, 2021 at NCMNH House. Along with the staff Dr. Sadiah Ahsan Pal and Dr. Shahida Zaidi attended the meeting.
The meeting began with a prayer for his soul to rest in peace.
Dr. Setna was a Dow Medical College graduate and Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He spent all his life at Lady Dufferin Hospital (LDH) in the Kharadar area and treated poor patients from old Karachi. He was Medical Director of Concept Infertility Centre Clifton, Karachi.
He was the person responsible for the formation of NCMNH. It so happened that the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Ms. Benazir Bhutto delivered her first child at Lady Dufferin Hospital and Dr. Setna was her obstetrician. During her stay at hospital there was a maternal death that sensitized her to this aspect of maternal death. This led to the formation of Committee (NCMNH) in 1994 to look into the causes of maternal deaths and reduce Maternal Mortality through workable approaches. Prof. Sadiqua Jafarey was appointed as the President, Dr. Setna as Advisor and Mrs. Imtiaz Kamal as Secretary General.
Dr. Sadiah Ahsan Pal said that she had a wonderful association with him in the last 16years at Concept Infertility Centre. He convinced her to practice infertility even when she didn’t want to.
She said he was very honest with his patients. He would take criticism positively even if it came from his junior. Whenever he referred a patient to other doctors, he would write a note for the doctor, his assistant would call the doctor and then he would call him/her. He was humble, thorough gentleman, a good human being.
He was a very private and shy person. Did not want to be photographed or speak in public. He was committed to his patients and work.
Dr. Shahida Zaidi also spoke about his commitment to his patients and said that back in 1979 her ultrasound clinic was in Nazimabad area, which was quite far away from where he practiced, so it was difficult for his patients to reach there. He bought an ultrasound machine for his clinic and requested Dr. Shahida to visit his clinic once a week and train his doctors in ultrasound.
A forward looking person with a long term approach.
He will be remembered with respect and affection by all those whose lives he touched.
