For more than nine years since the inception of UNMIL, Pakistani military doctors have rendered invaluable service to the host population, including some life-saving interventions. Prof. Lucky Ehigiator, Dean of the College of Health and Sciences at the William Tubman University in Harper, was among one of the beneficiaries.

On Saturday, 16 March 2013, at about 4 O’clock in the morning he was rushed to the emergency department of PakMed Level 2 Hospital with difficult breathing, palpitation, sweating and in a semi-conscious state. A clinical evaluation suggested Acute Pulmonary Edema from Congestive Cardiac Failure (CCF).

The University don was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit and managed by a team of medics, including Maj. Jahanzeb Liaqat (Specialist), Maj. Rashid Iqbal and Maj. Zulfiqar Haider (both Anaesthetist and Intensive Care specialists), and Maj. Muhammad Yousaf Shah (Surgeon).

Besides some renal abnormalities, the patient also tested positive for the Falciparum malaria parasite. Combined, these conditions can lead to a life-threatening situation.

After five hours in the ICU, Prof. Ehigiator showed signs of improvement. His breathing became less labored, oxygen saturation rose to more than 90% and renal function returned to normal.

Subsequently he was managed with continuous oxygen therapy, intra-venous antibiotics, anti-coagulants, diuretics, anti-hypertensives and anti-malarial drugs.

In spite of its limited resources and facilities, PakMed Level 2 Hospital was able to provide adequate treatment resulting in full recovery for the lucky Dr Lucky.

The Nigerian-born American expressed his deepest gratitude for the expert care provided by the Pakistani doctors and nurses who connived with him, as it were, to cheat death.