New to the Parish: Dr Mohsin Kamal arrived from Pakistan in 2015
This Story by Sorcha Pollak Irishtimes.com
Mohsin Kamal was always a hard worker at school. He grew up hearing stories of the struggles his father faced as a child and knew how much his family valued education. “My dad was a brilliant student, but his father died when he was 10, and he had to quit school and work. He knew if he continued to study, his younger brothers wouldn’t be able to get their education.”
Growing up on a farm outside the city of Okara, in eastern Pakistan, Kamal initially set his sights on becoming an accountant, but his uncle, who had trained as a doctor, persuaded him to study medicine instead.
“He thought by joining this profession I could serve the community in a better way. He felt accountants are usually after money rather than helping humanity. That’s why he wanted me to be a doctor.”
Kamal secured a place studying premedicine for two years in the city of Lahore before moving to the Services Institute of Medical Science. Two years after graduating he was recruited to work in Ireland. He arrived on St Patrick’s Day in 2015.
I built this college for the poor people of my area. Now both boys and girls(especially) can study in their hometown.
I believe that Education is the right of everyone, doesn’t matter his/her parents are rich or poor.
My next goal is to give them a free hospital. pic.twitter.com/1rAtz09S4i— Mohsin Kamal (@mohsinkamal169) February 18, 2021
Highlights of the Story:
Starting work in an Irish hospital ‘was a whole new system, and the language was difficult. The stress was high, and I was so scared I would do something wrong
Kamal agreed to donate money to build a school in Pakistan, to make education more accessible for girls. ‘I ended up contributing nearly €40,000. I felt such pride in what we’d done
It feels like you’re living in a cave: you emerge in the morning, go to work and come back in the evening and don’t see anyone
“My kids love Ireland, and my wife loves the weather. We love the people and the way they smile at you. It would be very hard to leave this country.”
