Abdul Ghaffar Billoo ( born 14 January 1937) is a Pakistani philanthropist who founded HANDS International, a nonprofit organisation in Pakistan, which has been working since 1975. As a paediatric endocrinologist, he served at the Aga Khan University (AKU) as professor of clinical paediatrics.Aga Khan University Profile He was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for public service, the country's most prestigious civilian award, by then-President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf in March 2007.
Early life Billoo was born in Junagadh in 1937. He received his early education from his native town in India after partition of India his family was migrated to Pakistan. Personality of the Week Program – A Renowned Pediatrician Retrieved Kal Point 16 December 2012
Education Billoo obtained his MBBS degree from Dow Medical College in 1959. He received his Diploma in Child Health, Tropical Medicine, and Hygiene from the United Kingdom in 1962. He was qualified for his MRCP in 1964 and appointed a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1986.Brief profile Retrieved, Schildnews Newspaper
Career Billoo started his professional career in 1959 from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. He joined Institute of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene on 1962 located in Glasgow. He was appointed as Registrar in Pediatrics at Seafield Sick Children Hospital Ayrshire, Scotland in 1962 where he worked for three years. After four years in the United Kingdom he came back to Pakistan and started practicing as Pediatrician later in September 1998 he joined Aga Khan University Hospital as chairman of Department of Pediatrics in the university.Physician Profile The Aga Khan University Hospital He not only served as professor and Head of Pediatrics Department in Dow Medical College but also was the part of University of Karachi as Dean Faculty of Medicine for three years.
Honors and awards 1964 – Membership for Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. 1975 – Founder and chairman for HANDS Pakistan. 1986 – Fellowship of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. 2007 – Sitara-i-Imtiaz from Government of Pakistan. 26 Civil Awards Conferred in Sindh Retrieved Daily Times, Saturday, 24 March 2007Civil awards conferred Retrieved Daily Dawn, 24 March 2007 2012 – Professor Emeritus from Aga Khan University.AKU confers degrees on 321 students Retrieved, Dawn News, 19 November 2012 02:41:03
Publications Billo has more than 200 publications top 20 publications in United States National Library of Medicine as follows:
Role of a Probiotic (Saccharoyces boularidii) in management and prevention of diarrhoea.Role of a Probiotic Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 2006 Jul 28;12(28):4557-60. Comparison of oral versus injectable vitamin-D for the treatment of nutritional vitamin-D deficiency rickets.Comparison of oral versus injectable vitamin-D for the treatment of nutritional vitamin-D deficiency rickets. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, doi: 07.2009/JCPSP.428431. Incomplete Kawaski disease: are we missing it? Incomplete Kawaski disease: are we missing it? Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 2009 Jan;59(1):42-3. Perception and practices of breastfeeding of infants 0–6 months in an urban and a semi-urban community in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.Perception and practices of breastfeeding of infants 0–6 months in an urban and a semi-urban community in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 2011 Jan;61(1):99–104. Familial chylomicronemia in a nine months old infant.Familial chylomicronemia in a nine months old infant Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2008 Oct;18(10):655-6. A family with acute intermittent porphyria.A family with acute intermittent porphyria Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2008 May;18(5):316-8. doi: 05.2008/JCPSP.316318. Pulmonary agenesis—vascular airway compression and gastroesophageal reflux influence outcome.Pulmonary agenesis—vascular airway compression and gastroesophageal reflux influence outcome Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pediatr Surg. 2006 Jun;41(6):1165-9. Review. Association of literacy of mothers with malnutrition among children under three years of age in rural area of district Malir, Karachi.Association of literacy of mothers with malnutrition among children under three years of age in rural area of district Malir, Karachi Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 2005 Dec;55(12):550-3. Association between iron deficiency anemia and febrile seizures.Association between iron deficiency anemia and febrile seizures Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2005 Jun;15(6):338-40. Profile of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia—a hospital study.Profile of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia—a hospital study. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 2004 Oct;54(10):509-12. Impact of socioeconomic conditions on perinatal mortality in Karachi.Impact of socioeconomic conditions on perinatal mortality in Karachi. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 2001 Oct;51(10):354-60. Cefixime: an oral option for the treatment of multidrug-resistant enteric fever in children.Cefixime: an oral option for the treatment of multidrug-resistant enteric fever in children. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, South Med J. 1997 Dec;90(12):1204-7. Detection and management of pneumonia by community health workers-a community intervention study in Rehri village, Pakistan.Detection and management of pneumonia by community health workers-a community intervention study in Rehri village, Pakistan. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 1997 Feb;47(2):42-5. Rehabilitation of grade III protein energy malnutrition on out patients basis.Rehabilitation of grade III protein energy malnutrition on out patients basis. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 1995 Dec;45(12):312-4. Risk factors of persistent diarrhoea in children below five years of age.Risk factors of persistent diarrhoea in children below five years of age. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 1995 Nov;45(11):290-2. Expanded programme of immunisation in Karachi.Expanded programme of immunization in Karachi. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 1995 Feb;45(2):34-7. A change of Plasmodium species infecting children in Karachi over the last decade.A change of Plasmodium species infecting children in Karachi over the last decade. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 1994 Jul;44(7):162-4. A traditional diet as part of oral rehydration therapy in severe acute diarrhoea in young children.A traditional diet as part of oral rehydration therapy in severe acute diarrhoea in young children. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Diarrhoeal Dis Res. 1991 Sep;9(3):258-63. Comparative clinical trial of acceptability of flavoured vs non-flavoured ORS (WHO formula).Comparative clinical trial of acceptability of flavoured vs non-flavoured ORS (WHO formula) Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, J Pak Med Assoc. 1987 Jul;37(7):167-70. Efficacy of co-trimoxazole in infantile gastro-enteritis.Efficacy of co-trimoxazole in infantile gastro-enteritis. Retrieved, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Curr Med Res Opin. 1978;5(6):439-43. Abstracts in World Health Organization's Imemr database.Articles in World Health Organization Imemr database Retrieved, World Health Organization Imemr Database
Philanthropy Billoo founded Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) with his few close friends which has been serving humanity since 1975.HANDS on Child Marriages Issue Retrieved, The News International, 22 January 2013 It works on health, human rights, education, disaster managementRehabilitation of Flood Affectees by HANDS Pakistan Retrieved, Fortnightly Medical Newspaper, 15–28 February 2011 and poverty alleviation.Child Abuse Rehabilitated Retrieved, Pakistan Press Foundation, 2 March 2007
References
External links Samedco HANDS Pakistan Aga Khan University Memon Medical Institute Hospital Beacon Of Light-Dr. Abdul Gaffar Billoo (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) Interview on Maginificent Memons