Healing Hands: Health Care for PWDs & Deafs

Access to quality health care remains one of the biggest challenges for Deaf persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs), primarily due to communication barriers and lack of inclusive practices within medical facilities. Through this project, Deaf Welfare Awareness Foundation (DWAF) is actively addressing these gaps to ensure dignified, safe, and effective health care access.

A major milestone of this reporting period is the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DWAF and Indus Hospital. This partnership marks a significant step toward inclusive health services for the Deaf and PWD communities. Under this collaboration, Indus Hospital’s paramedical staff has received basic sign language training, enabling them to communicate more effectively with Deaf patients during registration, consultation, and treatment processes.

This initiative has already improved patient confidence, reduced miscommunication, and enhanced the overall care experience for Deaf and PWD beneficiaries. Families report feeling more respected, understood, and safe while seeking medical treatment.

Building on this success, DWAF is now working to expand this inclusive health care model by onboarding additional hospitals into this network. Our goal is to replicate sign language training and disability-inclusive practices across multiple health facilities, ensuring broader and sustainable access to health care for Deaf and PWD communities.

This progress would not have been possible without the continued support of the GlobalGiving community. Together, we are transforming health care from a barrier into a bridge for inclusion, dignity, and equal access.

Project Report

At Deaf Welfare Awareness Foundation (DWAF), we believe that behind every number there is a human story of resilience and hope. Through our Healing Hands initiative, we continue to support Deaf individuals and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who often struggle to access even the most basic healthcare.

Here are some of the lives we recently touched:

1. A Family in Lahore – A Safe Delivery
In August 2025, one family in Lahore approached DWAF during a difficult time when the mother was about to give birth. With limited financial means and little access to quality care, they were deeply worried. Our team stepped in to provide medical and financial support. Because of this timely intervention, both mother and baby are healthy today — a reminder of how essential inclusive healthcare truly is.

2. A Patient from Lahore – Urgent Medical Support
Around the same time, a community member in Lahore required immediate medical attention. Like many in the Deaf and PWD community, this patient faced barriers to timely treatment. DWAF ensured that the person received medical consultation and support without delay, lifting a heavy burden off the family’s shoulders.

3. A Woman from Sheikhupura – Access to Healthcare
Another case involved a woman from Sheikhupura who reached out with a pressing health concern. Living in a smaller city, her access to proper healthcare was limited, and affordability was a major challenge. DWAF connected her with the right care and resources, giving her not only treatment but also hope for a healthier future.

Each of these stories demonstrates how small acts of care can transform lives. Through Healing Hands, DWAF is not only filling the healthcare gap but also advocating for a system where Deaf individuals and PWDs can access medical treatment with dignity and equality.

With your support, we aim to expand these efforts by organizing regular health camps, training doctors in sign language, and building strong partnerships with hospitals to ensure no one is left behind.

Together, we are not just treating patients — we are saving lives and restoring hope.

With gratitude,
Farhat Aslam
Executive Director
Deaf Welfare Awareness Foundation (DWAF)

Links:

• https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/doctors/