HOPE RESUMES ITS SCHOOLS AFTER THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

The corona virus pandemic and subsequent lockdown is an unprecedented situation in modern times. It is hard to gauge the full impact that the situation is having on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.  

Student’s experiences of the lockdown period will have been very varied. For some, it will mostly have been a safe and enjoyable time. For others, it will have been challenging or traumatic. Schools and teachers of HOPE an NGO in Pakistan are used to supporting their students through challenges that they face in life.

Schools all across the world are starting to reopen, as countries lift their lockdowns. Various measures have been put in place, from social distancing to staggered school times.

The number of active cases in Pakistan has diminished to a vast extent, but this does not mean
Covid-19 has eradicated from its core. There are still a certain percentage of active cases and it is necessary to take serious precautions in order to avoid further spreading of corona virus cases from person to person.  However due to the  strict lockdown within the country since April 2020 till August 2020 it has brought some control in spreading  of corona cases.

Six months after Covid-19-related lockdown, the Government announced reopening of all public and private educational institutions with certain standard operating procedures (SOPs).

HOPE - An Educational NGO in Pakistan has also resumed its formal as well as informal schools as per the instructions of the Government and has implemented a very strict procedure on the implementation of certain Standard Operating Procedures in order to avoid the spreading of the corona virus disease.

HOPE schools in the areas of Karachi, rural Sindh, Muzaffargarh, Thatta, Muzaffarabad etc have all resumed their procedures. The Temperature of student’s s and teachers will be checked on the entrance those with high fever will not be allowed to trespass, all furniture’s and surfaces will be disinfected on a regular basis. The use of masks and gloves on campus is mandatory. Hand washing and sanitizing has been implemented as a compulsory practice, in order to avoid the spread of the disease. 

Under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla-A Child Specialist in Karachi, HOPE aims to provide the best quality education it can to the under privileged. HOPE welcomes individuals and organizations who want to play their role in helping HOPE to achieve its target.

HOPE Medical Camp at Bilal Colony

 HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan is a very old established NGO functioning successfully since 1997. Working to improve the medical and educational system in Sindh, Punjab and KPK.

HOPE is currently working nationwide to provide health services. It reaches out to underprivileged communities. HOPE has Hospitals, MCH centers and Mobile health units.  HOPE has 4 secondary care hospitals, located in Karachi, Thatta and Sujawal, while 3 Maternal and Child Healthcare Centers (MCH) in Karachi located in slum areas. These are outpatient facilities and provide preventive and curative healthcare to mothers and children. Furthermore HOPE is operating 2 mobile health clinics in the rural areas surrounding Karachi. A total of 10 villages are covered during a period of 5 days.

Providing world class health care facility is an obligation on HOPE – A Health NGO in Pakistan. Having said that, a number of medical and surgical facilities and services are provided, some of which are as follows: Labor rooms, Maternity services, X-Ray, Blood Bank, Laboratory, and Gynecologist Surgeries etc

Recently HOPE set up a Medical Camp in Bilal colony to provide medical support to the poor and needy men, women and children who have been affected by the recent monsoon floods.

Mostly women and children came to sought treatment for common diseases such as respiratory infection, skin diseases, typhoid, diarrhea, constipation, high grade fever flu, urinary tract infections and pregnant women were given medicines as well as their antenatal checkup was done.

 A total of 500+ patients were treated and prescribed medication. All in all, HOPE Pakistan conducted a very successful medical camp with patients returning back to their homes satisfied and content.

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A child specialist in Karachi , has always been focused in providing   better and increased health facilities to the rural, poor people especially those of Sindh and adjoining areas.

 

MONSOON FLOOD RELIEF ACTIVITIES BY HOPE

 Monsoon rains and flood have created havoc in different parts of Pakistan especially the flood-affected areas leaving thousands of families affected, large number of houses destroyed, thousands of acres of ready to harvest crops and fruits orchards have been damaged, link roads and bridges destroyed.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department had issued high alert in the wake of expected widespread heavy rain and flood.

Relief assistance that has been provided so far is insufficient and most of the unattended affected people will remain at high risk requiring immediate lifesaving assistance.

In keeping with its goals and traditions, HOPE an NGO in Pakistan, with the assistance of its supporters made this whole-hearted, meaningful effort of going all the way from Karachi to distribute much needed ration, food supplies and water to the poor and needy families of Thatta, Badin, Gharo,Ghaggar Mujahid Coloney, Bilal Coloney etc whose houses have been drowned due to the recent monsoon floods, and their survival has become a challenge, as they have no place to cook or rest. Their stoves furniture and food supplies have all been damaged, and have been left without any means of sustenance.

In preparation of this important event HOPE a Health NGO in Pakistan, with the help of its numerous generous supporters had gathered together a very substantial quantity of food supplies enough to last each family until the flood situation has been cleared out their full rehabilitation. On reaching the areas seriously damaged by the floods, the team stated orderly distribution of the relief goods and water. The recipients were grateful for the relief food supplies and clean drinking water that was dispensed to them.

All supplies were individually packed. Meal packets, biscuits, khajoor, juices and clean drinking water have been provided to the flood victims.

HOPE’s chairperson, Dr Mubina Agboatwalla -Achild specialist in Karachi, has always been the guiding force in organizing and implementing such relief activities with great success. HOPE team, personally participated in the relief efforts and in this case too, traveled all the way to the rural areas of Karachi and interior Sindh to ensure that the relief activity is carried out with efficiency and maximum number of flood affected are benefited.

TREE PLANTATION ACTIVITY BY HOPE

 Considering the manifold benefits of trees, including that they release oxygen into the air, absorb unpleasant odors as well as harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide from the air and purify it, protect us from dangerous ultra-violet rays, provide us with food and the pivotal role played by trees in preventing soil erosion, maintaining ecological balance and most especially in lessening the effects of global warming. 

Tree Plantation is poised to effect a positive change in the world's forests growing fast growing trees on a global scale.

Plantation is not an option, but a necessity to save the country for future generations and topromote environmental welfare and for that reason HOPE- an NGO in Pakistan has initiated the tree plantation activity.

Planting a tree is a lifelong investment. How well this investment grows depends on the type of tree selected and the planting location, the care provided during planting, and the follow-up care after planting. Getting your new tree off to a healthy start will help the tree mature to its full size and ensures it will provide environmental, economic, and social benefits throughout its lifetime.

The Tree Plantation drive being conducted by HOPE, is sponsored by The Bokhari Foundation, who collaborated with HOPE - a Health NGO in Pakistan, for the plantation of trees in various cities like Karachi, Gadap, Thatta, Sujawal, Ghaggar etc. 

On the sites selected approximately 180 plants have been decided upon for plantation. Trees such as Gulmohar, Neem,Eucalyptus,Ashoka, Sukh Chain, Peepal etc. These trees will have a tremendous impact on climate change

Some of the very obvious benefits that tree plantation has is: Trees provide oxygen, they cleanse the air, prevent water pollution, conserve energy, most importantly they provide for wood which in turn increases the timber market production and boosts the business.

Under the Leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla- a child specialist in Karachi, HOPE is dedicated to improving the condition in Pakistan, by all necessary means which also includes tree plantation.

HOPE will move on to searching for more sites where trees can be planted, while those which had already been planted will be well looked after. HOPE wishes to combat climate change through such activities.