MAITS' award-winning Community Healthworker training teaches life-saving techniques that improve disabled children's health & well-being, through expert volunteer trainers in Pakistan. We will equip local community workers with the skills to support families in their own homes. Piloted in Jamaica we taught simple techniques to carers of disabled children. Before our training, there were serious case reviews with children dying or very ill. After, there was not one serious case review or death.
150 million children in the world have a disability and they face exclusion in most areas of their lives. They are "more than twice as likely to report finding health care providers' skills inadequate to meet their needs" (WHO). In Pakistan, there is a scarcity of community health workers equipped to support children and families in their own homes. This has worsened since the outbreak of the pandemic. The need is now critical to redress this gap in need and MAITS works in partnership.
This project won a merit prize in the World Cerebral Palsy awards 2018 for the Jamaica pilot. We are teaching the same practical techniques to families who have children with disabilities, within their own homes, in Karachi through local Community Workers and want to continue & expand to Eastern Pakistan. Our highly qualified local volunteer trainers will train workers on techniques to address feeding issues, build strength, build speech & promote independence, therefore improving life quality.
In a pandemic, it is even more critical that we continue important ensure those within their communities have the skills to support vulnerable children and their families in their own homes. We work with local charities, academic institutions & local government, building skills rather than sending in external people and tackle the stigma around disability. We ensure local knowledge, expertise and skills are retained ensuring community led support.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
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