By Seema I. Hassan & Todd Shea | Project Leader
We would like to wish a very Happy New Year to Global Giving and all our supporters, and to thank each one of you for your unstinting support over the years.
Since 2006, donations from generous supporters (either directly to us or through Global Giving, institutions, and through some community contribution via the self- sustainable health scheme) have enabled CDRS / SHINE Humanity to work in collaboration with the local government of AJK to restructure and scale up the rudimentary health care system that was devastated by the massive earthquake of 2005 and serve a catchment area population of 200,000 residents.
Over this time we have managed over 400,000 patients, mostly women and children, and established a primary care center with urgent care and referral services, ambulance service, a maternity center, dental health services and a well-stocked pharmacy. We have also acquired the necessary equipments, materials and training to set up a laboratory to enhance the scope of medical services provided in the near future.
Besides these direct medical activities we have been involved in supporting health and hygiene education programs in the government and private schools in the area, public health education programs and health awareness fairs, a micro-nutrients program to deal with the inherent nutritional problems and a program to benefit special patients who were suffering from major health problems and needed support with issues such as school fees, clothing, medicines, physical therapy or major medical procedures.
Our activities in Azad Jammu Kashmir [AJK] during October and November 2011 focused on providing on-going primary care through physician consultations and provision of medicines. 650 patients were seen in three health facilities in AJK during this time period. Chest infections, diarrhea and skin conditions were some of the diseases treated along with care provided for chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. 5 babies were delivered at the facility in Chikar in October and ante-natal and post-natal care was provided to these women. Health and hygiene education continued to be promoted as in the past.
In December, after more than six years of comprehensive, compassionate and competent service to the People of AJK, CDRS temporarily suspended day-to-day operations at the Chikar Rural Health Center due to a significant drop in donor funds for AJK since the more immediate flood emergencies in other parts of Pakistan. This drop in funding, along with the community’s failure to pick up the slack by providing internal funding for the Community Based Self Sustainable health Insurance project, resulted in the necessity to make a new partnership agreement with the community and newly elected government health officials of AJK. Once we study the AJK Government’s new health budget for 2012 and re-asses our mission to determine the best and most effective way to utilize the funds we have to continue supporting the neediest and most deserving patients in the community, we will re-start a more streamlined program in February 2012 and keep you informed of our progress.
We would like to reaffirm our commitment to improving the lives of the Kashmiri people and look forward to your continued support in this regard. Once again, we are deeply grateful for all your contributions and support over the years.
Links:
By Abaid ur-Rahman | Team Leader, SHINE Humanity-CDRS
By Laila Karamally | CEO, SHINE Humanity
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