HOPE’s work presented at OICCI Conference

The persistent neglect of human resource development is severely affecting social and economic outcomes in Pakistan. According to the 2015 Human Development Report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), over half the population of Pakistan is deprived of basic education and health facilities and live below a respectable standard of living.

Pakistan ranks 147th out of 188 countries in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI). Furthermore, Pakistan ranks 121st out of 155 countries in terms of its Gender Inequality Index; which means that only 19.3 percent of women reach secondary education  Similarly, health outcomes in Pakistan with life expectancy at 66.2 years are the lowest in South Asia, reflecting the inescapable linkage between education and and health in human resource development.

HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan diligently tries to assist Pakistan in this unfortunate situation with interventions in the field of healthcare and education for all. Under the vigorous leadership of Dr Mubina Agboatwalla- child specialist in Karachi, most of the organization’s activities are focused primarily on the rural and urban slum areas of Pakistan. HOPE works extensively to provide quality education and health services , free of cost to the underprivileged masses.

On 01 December 2016, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI) organized a CSR networking session for its members with leading social sector organizations on the topic of “Health” in Karachi. Representatives from various non-profit and social organizations were invited to present their work in the domain.

Dr Mubina Agboatwalla- child specialist in Karachi, the Chairperson of HOPE, represented the organization at the session. She gave a brief but comprehensive presentation regarding HOPE’s work in the country. She touched upon the major healthcare interventions alongside the education and skill development endeavors undertaken. She stressed that improving literacy, developing skills and providing educational opportunities to the underprivileged community was of paramount importance towards improving healthcare. Her presentation was applauded by all esteemed guests and attendees of the conference.

HOPE- a health NGO in Pakistan is an ardent believer of prevention over cure and the focus behind all its work is the concept of equal opportunities for everyone regardless of gender or socioeconomic status. HOPE continues to play its part towards improving the living conditions for the deprived population of Pakistan, believing that the next Human Development Report will showcase improved statistics for the country.

The Fahims School Students visit HOPE Bhittaiabad School

The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to education for all children aged 5–16 years. This right is reinforced by laws, policies and programmes at both federal and provincial levels. Nevertheless, over 6.5 million children are currently not in primary school and another 2.7 million are not in lower secondary school. These children, as well as those who are at risk of dropping out, are being denied the right to a full basic education of good quality.

HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan diligently tries to provide education to all, especially the underprivileged masses. Under the vigorous leadership of Dr Mubina Agboatwalla- child specialist in Karachi, most of the organization’s activities are focused primarily on the rural and urban slum areas of Pakistan. HOPE works extensively to provide quality education, free of cost to the underprivileged who cannot afford to send their children to schools.

HOPE has set up semi formal schools in the areas of Sachal Goth and Bhittaiabad where 200 children are being educated free of cost. The children of these areas belong to poor families that cannot afford education. HOPE strives to provide underprivileged masses with free education and these semi formal schools provide these children opportunities they can avail to elevate their living standards.

On 30th November 2016, HOPE arranged a trip for a group of 20 O’levels students of The Fahims School System to the semi formal school in Bhittaiabad. The students wanted to visit the informal school in person to share donations to the underprivileged children in both cash and kind. The students from The Fahims School System met the students of Bhittaiabad school with great fervor, played games and carried out a number of other fun activities.

Additionally, the students distributed snacks, stationery and course books with them. Both groups of students got involved in conversation about their school and courses of study. They captured group photographs and shared lunch together.

HOPE- an educational NGO in Pakistan tries to connect all its school students with resources and opportunities to learn about the world and gain practical skills. This visit proved to be very eventful for both students of the Bhittaiabad school and The Fahims School, who enjoyed and learned from each other’s company throughout.

Donors Visit Installed Hand Pumps in Kathore

Water is one of the fundamental elements responsible for life on earth; yet it remains out of reach of billions around the globe. It affects every continent and more than 1.2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. While considering the province of Sindh in Pakistan, besides being one of the disadvantaged communities when it comes to literacy and morbidity rate in addition, it happens to be one of the places where water is chronically short besides being dirty and contaminated. Women of these remote areas travel 5-6 km far from their village to fetch water. However, water wells are set-up 250 ft deep from which both animals and humans drink water.

HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan has been helping the needy to obtain clean drinking water under the leadership of Dr Mubina Agboatwalla- child specialist in Karachi. With the help of charitable donors Mr. and Mrs. Azizuddin, their son Mr. Aymen Azizuddin, deep soil handpumps have been installed in a village named Abdul Rehman Chuto Goth (Kathor). Another handpump has been installed in village Murad Ali Gabol Goth (Kathor) with the generous contribution from Mr. and Mrs. Mazhar Sharif.

On 29th November 2016, both charitable donor families visited both villages to oversee the installed handpumps and observe the impact it has made on the residents’ lives. Both villages are located in Kathor, about 30 kilometers from Karachi Toll Plaza, with each village being home to 250 families and a total population of over 800 people. These villages have been previously completely devoid of water and barely able to keep themselves in existence. Women carry water on their heads in laden cans, pitchers and even drums full of water, from prolonged distances.

The visiting donors and their families were overjoyed to see the installed handpumps being extremely beneficial to the village community. They talked with the locals who highlighted how the handpump had saved them from migrating to areas with better water accessibility and reduced the workload on them to fetch water from distant places. Many residents hailed the handpumps to be a great blessing for them. The visitors were showered with hospitality by the locals and the visitors distributed sweets among the residents as a token of appreciation.

HOPE - a health NGO in Pakistan gains greater dedication and motivation as we witness the change each hand pump has brings in the lives of so many people in these rural areas.

HOPE Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

Pakistan is the 6th largest country of the world by population with a major portion living in ruralareas. Despite the government setting healthcare as one of its primary objectives, the average spending on health is below 3% of the total allocated budget over the past 20 years. Health facilities for the rural poor in the present state are in total disarray.

Most private organisations do not find it financially viable to set up health care services in rural villages due to several reasons. Greater distances, lack of proper road networks and low population densities discourage the private sector in investing in rural healthcare.

Villages in the outskirts of Karachi and interior Sindh are the prime example of such rural areas. These villages face serious health challenges with infectious diseases such as gastrointestinal disorder, pulmonary tuberculosis, malaria and diarrhea being very common. Moreover, malnutrition of children is another alarming problem. According to a survey, the Global Acute Malnutrition rate among children between 6 and 59 months old was more than 21% in southern Sindh, which is well above the World Health Organisation’s 15% emergency threshold.

HOPE-a health NGO in Pakistan has been active in Pakistan since 1997, under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-Child Specialist in Karachi. It strives to improve the health and educational disparity of the deprived community in the country.

HOPE recently started a project of Mobile Health Units(MHUs), whereby a group of doctors and paramedics follow a schedule of relocation everyday. They set up camps at designated sites and repeat the cycle every week. The patients are treated and provided with free medicine. These MHUs care cost efficient and cover a vast area from Pipri, south-east of Karachi, across the Hub of Balochistan.

Ever since this project was started with the generous collaboration of Asia Petroleum, nearly 120-130 patients are examined on each visit. This leads to 24,000 patients being treated each year. Proper medical care is given to each patient, including free medicine. The common ailments normally diagnosed are diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, vomiting and malnutrition in children. In women, gynaecological and obstetrical problems are observed. In addition to treatment, community awareness regarding proper hygiene and cleanliness is also given to patients to prevent recurrence of disease outbreaks.

HOPE-a health NGO in Pakistan strives to improve the disastrous health care crisis all over Pakistan. The setting up of these MHUs helps move towards that goal, 26 villages at a time. HOPE stresses very strongly that only setting up of treatment facilities will not solve the problem. Preventive healthcare methods and practices need to be adopted by both the rural and urban population in order for a healthy society to develop within the country.

HOPE Students explore Space Science on a visit to PIA Planetarium

It is mandated in the Constitution of Pakistan (Article 25-A) to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 5-16 years and enhance adult literacy. The country, however, finds itself in a very unfortunate state of affairs as more than 24 million boys and girls stay deprived of any formal or informal educational opportunities.

HOPE - an educational NGO in Pakistan diligently tries to provide education to all, especially the unprivileged masses. Hence most of its activities are focused primarily on the rural and urban slums of Pakistan. HOPE, under the guidance of President and Chairperson Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - Child Specialist in Karachi, uses a community- based approach to implement interventions to help mold out a better society.

HOPE has set up semi formal schools in the areas of Sachal Goth and Bhittaiabad where 200 children are being educated, free of cost. The children of these areas belong to poor families that cannot afford education. HOPE provides these children opportunities they can avail to elevate their living standards.

On 10th November 2016, 60 students from the semi formal schools were taken to visit the PIA Planetarium, Karachi as part of an activity by TARGET. The students were accompanied by four teachers along with two representatives. The aim of the visit was to spark an interest for space sciences in the students.

The students began their tour by watching a presentation inside the large airplane model stationed in the open space. The visual presentation explained to the students the solar system,the planets orbiting it and the various elements that encompass the cosmos. This was followed by moving to the Sky Dome, where TARGET representatives addressed the growing curiosity of the students with visual and audio explanations about constellations and stars. The tour culminated with lunch provided by the TARGET team to the students.

The students greatly enjoyed the session and found it extremely informative and exciting. They expressed greater curiosity towards learning more about the cosmos, planets and extraterrestrial life. Many students even expressed an ardent desire to work in the domain of Space Sciences when they grow up. HOPE - an NGO in Pakistan gets further drive and inspiration from such students in continuing its work towards improving the educational situation of Pakistan.

HOPE School Students visit Pakistan Air Force Museum

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the UN claims education to be a fundamental human right of every individual. It is rather unfortunate that millions of children in Pakistan remain deprived of this right. Pakistan is currently ranked 113th out of 120 registered UN members according to a research conducted by UNESCO. Barely 60% of children complete grades 1 to 5 at primary school.

Most parents are not able to afford school fee, books and uniform for their children, who number five to six in average rural families. HOPE - an educational NGO in Pakistan has been a precursor in providing free and quality education within its means to eradicate illiteracy in Pakistan, under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - Child Specialist in Karachi. HOPE has 4 formal schools and 200 informal schools in different districts all over Pakistan, serving the underprivileged communities and people of remote areas.

The HOPE Karachi School is located in Zia Colony, Korangi Industrial Area. The school has 800 students currently enrolled, most of whom were previously engaged in child labor to support their families. The school provides quality education free of cost along with provisions such as stationery, lunch boxes, and books.

Owing to the outstanding efforts put by the students into their academic performances and securing excellent results in the board examinations, a group of students was selected to a educational tour to Pakistan Air Force Museum. An educational tour such as this offers a unique opportunity for a rich experience and a tremendous way to facilitate co-curricular learning.

The students visited the PAF museum on 10th October 2016. They experienced firsthand knowledge about various services rendered by the Pakistan Air Force to the country and the various aircrafts, weapons and radar systems used. The Museum features all major fighter aircraft that have been used by the PAF. The museum also houses the Vickers VC. Viking used by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. Also on display are the scale models of some WWI, WWII and modern aircraft and photo galleries of almost all the squadrons of PAF.

The students were thrilled by the experience of the visit, their curiosity peaking to eminently high levels. They expressed motivation on putting in even greater efforts towards their studies. A couple of students even expressed an ardent desire to join the Pakistan Air Force. HOPE - an NGO in Pakistan gets further drive and inspiration from such students in continuing its work towards improving the educational situation of Pakistan.

PSI Executive visits HOPE Hospital

HOPE-an NGO in Pakistan, has been active in Pakistan since 1997, working in the health sector of Pakistan. The organization is spearheaded by the dynamic leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-child specialist in Karachi and continuously strives to improve the health and educational disparity of the deprived community in the country.

One of the focal points of HOPE’s work has been the improvement of maternal and child health care services. It has established two(2) Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) centres in addition to four (4) secondary care hospitals in Karachi and interior Sindh. These facilities provide maternal health care services like delivery, C-section and neonatal. Moreover, the visiting mothers are also counselled on the importance of family planning.

Family planning is one of the most important components of maternal and child health. Pakistan ranks as the 6th most populous country of the world, with a population of 191.71 million. 41% of the population is under 15 years of age and the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is 29% only. A research indicates that the population will rise to 342 million by 2050. The increase in population leads to increase in the economic burden on the country and unless immediate and bold steps are taken, the country’s resources will not be able to keep up with the population growth.

PSI, in affiliation with Greenstar, collaborates with HOPE-a health NGO in Pakistan to work on maternal healthcare and family planning. The Director Global Internal Audit, Elizabeth J. Folsom, of PSI visited HOPE’s secondary care hospital in Zia Colony, Korangi on 30th October 2016 on an exclusive visit to the area. She toured the premises and was briefed about the recent happenings at the hospital. She approved and greatly appreciated the facility and the quality of service being offered. Moreover, she took special interest in the ongoing recent activities of the organization in the field of healthcare.

HOPE-a community development NGO in Pakistan, through its family planning programmes, greatly values various family planning methods. It prints and distributes IEC and print materials highlighting the importance of family planning. Numerous counselling sessions are held for the mothers of the community on a frequent basis. HOPE addresses the cultural barriers that prevent people from using family planning methods in the HOPE hospitals, where family planning programmes have been very successful.

Dr Mubina Agboatwalla wins Clinton Foundation Award

HOPE-an NGO in Pakistan, which runs under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla child specialist in Karachi, strives to achieve best possible ways to cater the health and educational requirements of the deprived community in Pakistan. The organization has rendered services to poor masses by giving access to their basic rights.

It has been almost two decades, when HOPE started as a band of volunteers working at Manzoor colony, trying arduously to treat and provide the best of services to the patients. With unshakable determination HOPE, led by Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-Child Specialist in Karachi HOPE grew into a large organization, bent on achieving its goals. In catering to the lower class, HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan has succeeded in extenuating the poverty to some extent.

Owing to the numerous and diversified services provided, the ever lasting impact made and lifestyles improved, Dr Mubina Agboatwalla- Chairperson HOPE and child specialist in Karachi has been honoured with a prestigious  award by Chelsea Clinton, on behalf of the Clinton Foundation and Procter & Gamble. The award has been presented to acclaim the efforts put in by Dr Mubina in order to make a dazzling social impact on health, education, provision of safe drinking water, and alleviation of poverty.

Dr Mubina Agboatwalla’s services have helped pave the way for the less fortunate citizens of Pakistan feel cherished and motivated towards helping the country continue towards economic and social prosperity. The receipt of this award has instilled a sense of further motivation and commitment in her and the entire HOPE team. Furthermore, she has also helped Pakistan to be recognized as one of the flourishing countries internationally.