HOPE DISTRIBUTES FOOD AMONG THE NEEDY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT

As inflation increases and the people living below poverty line have increased, the poorer segments of the society usually with a large family size find it difficult to make ends meet. One of the most common things to get affected upon is food. Incomes have dwindled so within the limited budget, the quantity and quality of food gets affected. Protein containing food like meat etc are unaffordable. Even eggs and milk are not provided to children. This has resulted in malnutrition, stunting, anemia, vitamin D deficiency etc. In adults as well as children. Immunity levels become low, and children are more prone to develop infections.

The argument put forth against food distribution is that you should teach them how to fish rather than to provide fish. Very well said! But in these troubled times you need a more holistic approach. HOPE- An NGO in Pakistan, on the one hand mainly provides services of education, health care, vocational skills. While at the same time Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A Child Specialist in Karachi feels that it is important to supplement the diet as well with nutritious food. These two interventions go side by side. It does not develop a simple habit of just take away.

HOPE - A Health NGO in Pakistan already working in poor urban areas and rural areas has households identified, who are poor, affording and require supplementation. Thus, HOPE has embarked upon this issue in two ways. On a regular basis dry food items (ration) is provided to numerous families on a monthly basis. This helps them in the provision of food items for the whole family. Also on a regular basis, philanthropic individuals provide cooked food in the form of biryani, boiled eggs and milk to children. This provides an instant form of nutrition to families who can afford just one meal in a day.

This form of charity is in keeping with traditions of Islam as well where feeding a hungry person is encouraged. These activities go on in a regular manner contributing to alleviate the food scarcity faced by poor segments of the society. It in no way hampers the ongoing education, health, vocational skills and other programs promoting sustainability.