GILGIT : For decades, Hameed Ullah stood beside operating tables at Hospitals, assisting surgeons through long and demanding procedures, often working quietly behind the scenes as patients’ lives were being saved.

Today, the man who spent most of his life helping others in the operating theatre is himself lying on a bed at Shaheed Saifur Rehman Government Teaching Hospital, battling cancer.

Hameed Ullah, widely regarded as the best and longest serving Operating Theatre Assistant at the hospital, was recently honored by colleagues who gathered to recognize his decades of dedication to the healthcare system in Gilgit.

The ceremony, organized by Dr. Nazneen Iqbal, Head of the Gynaecology Department, brought together doctors, nurses and operating theatre staff who had worked alongside him for many years.

Medical Superintendent Dr. Afzal Siraj and other senior staff presented him with a commemorative shield, certificates of appreciation and bouquets of flowers, gestures meant to acknowledge a career defined by quiet service and unwavering commitment.

For many in the hospital, Hameed Ullah was more than just an assistant in the operating theatre. Colleagues say he was a dependable presence during some of the most critical moments in the hospital’s surgical wards.

“Mr. Hameed Ullah has been the backbone of our operating theatre for years,” one of his colleagues from the surgical staff told Formal Post. “He always remained calm during the most difficult surgeries and was ready to help every member of the team. His dedication inspired younger staff.”

Patients also remember him.

One former patient recalled how Hameed Ullah helped ease his anxiety before surgery. “When I was brought into the operation theatre, I was extremely nervous,” he said. “He spoke to me gently and reassured me that everything would be fine. That kindness stayed with me.”

Hospital officials say that over the years, Hameed Ullah assisted in countless surgical procedures, supporting doctors and medical teams in delivering care to patients from across Gilgit-Baltistan. Though his role rarely placed him in the spotlight, many within the hospital say his contribution to patient care was immeasurable.

Now, as he undergoes treatment for cancer, colleagues say he is confronting the illness with the same resilience that marked his long career.

The hospital administration described him as a true asset to the Gilgit-Baltistan Health Department, noting that his lifelong service has left a lasting mark on the institution and the community it serves.

For many who know him, the image of Hameed Ullah lying on a hospital bed today is a poignant reminder of the quiet heroes of the healthcare system, those who spend their lives helping others but are rarely recognized. His colleagues say the ceremony was a small gesture of gratitude for a man who dedicated much of his life to saving others inside the operating theatre.