The ZB Foundation’s First Gala Dinner in Islamabad

ZB (187)

The first official gala dinner for The ZB Foundation took place on the 12th October 2017. Held at the renowned Marriot Hotel, Islamabad, dignitaries from all walks of life, including, government, celebrities, diplomats, business people and the medical community, all came together to honor a new cause that aims to change the lives of every new born baby born in Pakistan.

New Born Screening (heel prick test) is and should be a birth right for every single baby born in this world. In the developed world, it is taken for granted; new parents most of the time don’t even know that their little babies had tiny drops of blood taken from their heels and that the blood was tested as a precaution against numerous metabolic and health disorders in order to make sure the baby is healthy and not at a health disadvantage from day 1. The ZB Foundation is based on a simple premise: to give every baby born in Pakistan the right to a heel prick test. Babies born in Pakistan have every reason to expect the same rights as do babies that are born in Dubai, London, USA or Tokyo.

Sponsored by Nutricia, Unilver – Lifebouy and the Hashoo Group, The ZB Foundation Gala Dinner not only raised awareness regarding this critical baby issue but also brought to attention how a grass roots effort can make a change and positively impact the healthcare sector of Pakistan. Guests included:

Mr Ashtar Ausuf Ali the Attorney General of Pakistan, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Mrs Tehmina Janjua, Mr. Richard Crowder Deputy High Commissioner & Mrs Hilary Crowder British High Commission, Ambassador Tariq Osman Hyder, Mr & Mrs Saad Mahmud Embassy of France, HE Mr Ivan Ivanissevic Ambassador of Argentina, HE Mr Tore Nedrebo Ambasador of Norway.

They were presented with speeches that highlight the various aspects of The ZB Foundations’ mission; speakers included:

Danielle Wilson Naqvi (Founder, The ZB Foundation)

Danielle Wilson Naqvi Co Founder The ZB Foundation

Akber Naqvi (Founder, The ZB Foundation)

Akber Naqvi Co-Founder

Dr. Ali Raza (Clinical Coordinator and Board Trustee, The ZB Foundation)

Dr Ali Raza The ZB Foundation Dr

Mr. Neil Buhne (Resident Coordinator for the United Nations Development Program)

“The ZB Foundation is doing invaluable work by building partnerships to right an injustice – that not all children have the screening at birth which they deserve” stated Mr Neil Buhne from the United Nations.

Neil Buhne

Mrs. Ardi Stoios-Braken (Ambassador of the Netherlands)

Netherlands Ambassador Mrs. Ardi Stoios-Braken

Dr Ghazna Khalid (MBBS MD MRCOG, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health advisor to Ministry of Health KPK (Right)

Saima Khan and Dr Ghazna Khalid Health Advisory to Minister of Health KPK

Awards were given on the night in recognition of all the key sponsors, donors, board members and partners that have allowed The ZB Foundation to grow and establish a nascent new born screening infrastructure. Presented by The ZB Foundation Chairman, Mr Ali Javed Naqvi with a special token of gratitude given to Mr. & Mrs. Hashwani of the Hashoo Group in recognition of their special support for the cause and the evening’s event.

Sumeria Hashwani and Mr Murtaza Hashwani

Sumeriah Hashwani, Chairman of The ZB Foundation Mr Ali Javed Naqvi and Mr Murtaza Hashwani

Negar Esmailzadeh from Nutricia (Advance Medical Nutrition)Negar Esmailzadeh from Nutricia

Mrs Sara Khattak one of our long term donors.

Mr Ali Javed Naqvi and Mrs Sara Khattak

Dr Shahzad and Dr Sajid from Izzat Shah Hospital, Wah Cantt

Dr Shahzad, Mr Ali Naqvi, Dr Sajid from Izzat Shah Hospital

Mrs Sehr Amjad Ismail – The ZB Foundation Global Ambassador

Mrs Sehr Amjad Ismail and Mr Ali Javed Naqvi

A successful auction, presided over by the entertaining Mr. Omar Satti and the beautiful and glamorous Ms. Cybil Chaudhary, engaged the delighted crowd with an eclectic mix of art, sports and fashion items, raising significant funding for the ZB Foundation. People from the business and diplomatic community dug into their pockets to bid for items such as: a series of art paintings by Fatima Munir , a signed Imran Khan Cricket bat – donated by Shyam Bhatia of Alam Steel, A set of six silkscreening painting by Iranian artist Sahand Hesamiyan donated by Third Line Art Gallery in Dubai, a trendy jacket by Sania Maskatiya in a soft pink colour with beautiful hand embroidery and dazzling pearl and gemstone embellishments to name a few.

Mr Omar Satti Na Ms Cybil Chowdrhy

All in all, a successful and entertaining night with all invited guests walking away with a new-found appreciation for a worthwhile cause.

A Special Thank you goes too:

The ZB Foundation Team, Saima Khan (Board Director) Sarah Gothard (Trustee) Anissa Punjani, Sehr Amjad Ismail, Mariya Kassam, Natasha Lakhani, Dr Rashid Amjad, Mrs Maliha Amjad, Mr Tariq Osman Hyder and Mrs Rehanna Hyder

The team at The Marriott Hotel Islamabad and Sumeria and Murtaza Hashwani for their generous hospitality.

Danielle, Cybil, Saima, Anissa, Sarah

Danielle Wilson Naqvi, Cybil Chowdhry, Saima Khan, Anissa Punjani, Sarah Gothard

Sehr Amjad Ismail and Tehmina Janjua (Foreign Secrety of Pakistan)

Sehr Amjad Ismail and the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Mrs Tehmina Janjua

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