CELEBRATIONS OF EID-E-MILAD UN NABI AT HOPE

Streets across Pakistan turned festive as the faithful celebrated Eid-e-MiladunNabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with religious zeal and fervor.

The 12th Rabi-ul-Awal marks the birth of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him). 

Government buildings, streets, houses, shopping malls, and mosques were decorated beautifully with lights and buntings, as the youth and children did fireworks and marched in rallies wearing colorful dresses. Religious festivities are the part of Pakistani society; it promotes religious and cultural values.

'Milad' or recitation of poems to celebrate the praises of the Holy Prophet are held i by Muslims during the month of Rabiulawal, the third month of the Muslim calendar.Also commonly known as 'Milad un Nabi', this day is observed as a public holiday in many countries with a large Muslim population as it commemorates the anniversary of the birth of the founder of Islam and the proclaimer of the Quran.

Despite the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government for Eid-e-MiladunNabicelebrations, adherence to social distancing and mask-wearing instructions was almost non-existent.

Each yearEid-e-MiladunNabi is celebrated in the schools and hospitals of HOPE – An Educational NGOin Pakistan, to bring religious unity among the students and staff members. It also gives a chance to the students to show their talent. Competitions are held in all the schools and prizes are distributed.

The events were held at HOPE Head Office, HOPE General Hospital, Zia Hospital and School, Thatta Hospital and School. 

HOPE- An NGO in Pakistan does its best to encourage the hidden talent in these underprivileged children as well as inducing the religious spirit in them. Milad was the perfect occasion to let these students show their respect for the beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H.) through recitation of various Naats, Famous Naatkhuwans were also invited to recite Naats in their beautiful voice to increase the feeling of devotion. The way they presented the Naats fascinated the audience.

Under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A Child Specialist in Karachi, the event ended filling the hearts with joy and mind with inner peace, of all those who were present there. Everyone was served with delicious snacks, sweets and cold drinks.

HOPE SCHOOL STUDENTS PASS WITH FLYING COLOURS

Education is the key to success in life. In the poorer sections of society, access to education is difficult. This has become even more difficult in these economically difficult times. People either cannot afford to send children to school or don’t want children to study, but rather want children to work. The children become an additional earning member. Education is not a priority. They do not have the vision that imparting education will provide a brighter future to their children.

HOPE- An NGO in Pakistan, aims provide education to children in poorer communities who have no access to schools. In this context HOPE under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla- A Child Specialist in Karachi has established several schools in the urban and rural areas of Pakistan. In these schools children from poor communities are provided education free of cost. Many are children of labourers, drivers, transporters, factory workers who all earn a daily earning.

Recently results of HOPE High schools in Karachi and Thatta were declared. It was heartening to see that most of the students passed with A plus and A grades while some got B. Coming from humble backgrounds it is a great achievement to get these grades. It has opened several doors for them to apply for further studies. HOPE - An Educational NGO in Pakistan will support them in their college education so that they can peruse a career. A driver’s or labourer' son can become an office assistant or a computer operator. Only in this way a change can be brought in the society.

It has been always been the primary priority of HOPE, to provide the best possible education to the poor, who simply cannot afford it due to high costs.  This is why HOPE is not just creating means of providing quality education, but its main motive is to make this quality education accessible to the poor, who have no financial support to provide good schooling to their children.

HOPE ESTABLISHES A VOCATIONAL CENTER IN GHAGHAR TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Due to the recent Corona pandemic, the lockdowns and public restrictions throughout the country, the economy of the country has been seriously affected. This has decreased the GDP rate and increased the inflation, due to which prices of general commodities have gone very high. This economic crises is notonly the story of Pakistan, but it has caused a dent to the global economy.

The situation has turned worse for the families who have been depending on a single bread earner to run their kitchen. This is where HOPE – An NGO in Pakistan comes forward to ease the difficulty of the needy. HOPE has been establishing Vocational centers throughout Pakistan since a very long time.

HOPE- An Educational NGO in Pakistan in collaboration with Procter & Gamble Pakistan, is making Vocational training easily accessible to the far off underdeveloped areas of Pakistan. 

The People of Ghaggar are living below the poverty line. Life has been very difficult for the locals living here, especially since the pandemic, which made earning a living a real challenge. Keeping this in view HOPE has established a Vocational Center in Ghaggar at Haji Jangi Khan Goth. In this vocational center computer classes and sewing and cutting is taught. Through which young boys/girls and women can take advantage of this facility and learn a skill which they can implement in the practical world in order to earn a livelihood for their families. The main objective being to provide them skills which will enable them to earn a decent living.

These people have no access to computers. Providing computers in this remote area results in them not only having access to computers but also in opening a new world of technology for them. In this digital age, learning computers has become essential to compete in these times. Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla - A Child Specialist in Karachi, monitors the progress of each vocational center very closely, and encourages such young girls and women to learn a skill, through which they can be made capable of earing a side income for their family in order to reduce the financial pressure on their spouse or parents.

The computer training program is a 6 month course in which students are taught Microsoft Word, Excel and Paint. There are 2 shifts each day, in order to increase the concentration level of the teacher on each student. While in the stitching center; training is given on sewing, stitching, cutting and
embroidery. The course is designed to cater the needs of the women at their own pace. 

At the vocational center the shifts are designed in such a manner where students and housewives both can avail the training according to the timing which suits them best. They can easily manage their family
responsibilities side by side.

The primary purpose of this vocational center is to equip women with a capability to earn their own income by doing small scale business or giving part-time services.

This is how a small action can transform their lives and, in turn, reduce the burden on a single working member. It will also result in the society's economic progress.

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.

HOPE Maternal and Child Health Centre: A BLESSING FOR THE POOR URBAN SETTLEMENT

Every child deserves to have a healthy start in life, and every mother should have access to quality healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth. The birth of a new child should be a time for celebration, and yet for many women around the world it is a time of fear. 

At HOPE - A Health NGO in Pakistan we believe maternal health is particularly important because of the impacts it has on the future generations and communities. Not only does access to good quality maternal healthcare ensure the good health of a mother, but her good health also helps to ensure the good health of her newborn child and the rest of her family.

HOPE - An NGO in Pakistan is running an MCH which is located at Korangi , an urban slum in Karachi . This particular MCH is located in Korangi, having a population of 60,000, where minimal to almost no medical facilities. 

The MCH Center at Korangi is mainly visited by mothers and their children, services like Ultra sound, antenatal checkup are provided. The purpose of the MCH is to provide the much needed maternal and child health services. To provide ante natal and obstetric care to expectant mothers so that any abnormality in the progress of pregnancy can be identified early, appropriate interventions can be done, growth of fetus can be monitored. The most important thing is saving mothers and newborn lives. Many expectant mothers come to the clinic who literally not received any obstetric care during pregnancy. They depend on traditional birth attendants for home deliveries. Many of these women are referred to hospitals for proper medical intervention.

The MCH Centre also provides medical care to children. Children with gastroenteritis, respiratory infections , typhoid etc are diagnosed and treated. Medicine is provided free of cost. Dehydrated children are provided intravenous fluids. Malnourished children are given nutritional advice.   

An immunization program is also conducted on weekly basis, in which a team of Government officials visit the MCH every Saturday and provide vaccination and immunization shots to Women and children free of cost. The staff at HOPE MCH consists of a Female Doctor, a dispenser, 2 nurses, a helper and a maid who are available to all times to serve the patients.  

This MCH has become quite successful even though it has been just 6 months for its existence. The main reason for which is the population ratio who do not have access to medical facilities at a reasonable price in this area. Hence HOPE is the first to establish an MCH Center which was highly needed by the people of this area. On an average 2000 patients are seen monthly. In 6 months nearly 12000 patients have treated free of cost. 

Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla A Child Specialist in Karachi, who is also the founder and Chairperson of HOPE; from the very beginning has been striving hard and collaborating with local as well as International organizations through which they can support us in our cause in providing health care facilities and services to the need communities throughout Pakistan, by establishing Hospitals, Mobile Health Units, Mother & Child Healthcare and other Clinics, where patients are treated at a minimal or free of cost. 

Global Handwashing Day and Reaching 19 Billionth Liter Milestone of Safe Water by P&G

We’re Celebrating Global Handwashing Day and Reaching our 19 Billionth Liter Milestone

 

On October 15^th, the world celebrates Global Handwashing Day (GHD). Handwashing is a critical component of staying healthy and good hygiene. Started in 2008, this observance focuses on handwashing using soap to provide an easy, effective and affordable way to prevent disease.

 

• Last month, our brand Safeguard and Walgreens collaborated with Americares to bring 10 million handwashes to communities in need. This new program, Hope is in Your Hands, will provide Americares with products that will be distributed to clinics and hospitals worldwide including safety net health centers serving low-income, uninsured and under-insured families in the United States.  
• Safeguard in Greater China will conduct its 14^th Global Handwashing Day event on the Great Wall as part of its #SpreadHealthAcrossChina education and charity program. This program will reach 2/3 of cities in China providing handwashing facilities and education courses.
• In the Philippines, Safeguard is partnering with the Department of Health, the Department of Education, UNICEF and the Manila Water Foundation to host the “Science of Handwashing” talking about how Safeguard enables Filipinos to make every wash a #SafeWash. The brand is working with its partners to build handwashing facilities in 280+ public schools in Manila to ensure 100% of schools have access to handwashing once schools reopen. 

Our Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program plays an important role in helping enable good handwashing practices as the water used for handwashing needs to be clean to be effective. Since the not-for-profit program started in 2004, we have worked closely with more than 150 global partners to provide 19 billion liters of clean water in more than 90 countries around the world. We are well on our way to achieving our goal to reach 25 billion liters provided by 2025. We’re proud to celebrate this milestone anniversary with our charity partner HOPE who distributes much-needed P&G Purifier of Water packets in Pakistan to people like Allah B. and his family. Allah B. (75) lives with his wife Rahmia (70), their son Allah Rakha (45), daughter-in-law Sakina (30) and their five children Rasheed (10), Salma (9), Razia (5), Ameeran (2) and Gulzar (11 months).

For nearly 18 months, the HOPE team and Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla Child Specialist inKarachi has been distributing P&G packets in Allah B’s community. Volunteers from HOPE showed the family how to clean dirty and muddy water and provided buckets and the packets. Living in a remote village in Jam Sardar region, the community had to get their water from a nearby river. During rainy season, the water was quite dirty, and many people fell ill. Since the HOPE team has been regularly coming to the village and providing packets, education and training, people are not getting sick as often.

Having clean water has made a tremendous difference to Allah B’s family. Before they started using the packets, 2-year-old Ameeran became ill and had to be taken to the hospital. It took nearly two hours by bus and by the time she arrived, she was severely dehydrated and needed to be given IV fluids and injections. She remained in the hospital for three days which was expensive for the family. “I had to take a loan to pay for the hospital. We had to go to the doctor very often and medicines were very expensive. As I am a farmer, my earnings are not that much and all my income would go to medical expenses,” her father commented.

Because of the repeated infections, the children were not eating well and losing weight but since the family began using the packets, they have become ill less often. This has reduced their visits to the doctor and their medical expenses. And now in their community of about 1,500 people, nearly 80% of all households are using the packets to clean their water and are staying healthy. And encouragingly, infant deaths due to diarrhea has become a rare occurrence.

Providing more than one billion liters of clean water each year is another example of P&G’s acts of good as we Lead with Love supporting our communities, fostering equality and inclusion, and protecting the planet we call home.

To learn more about Safeguard in the U.S. click here, in Greater China, click here and in the Philippines, click here. To learn more about the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, visit www.csdw.org.

 

HOPE DEMONSTRATES P&G PUR WATER PURIFIER IN MUZAFFARABAD

Water is a fundamental human need. Each person on Earth requires at least 20 to 50 liters of clean, safe water a day for drinking, cooking, and simply keeping themselves clean.

Polluted water isn’t just dirty it is deadly. Some 1.8 million people die every year of diarrheal diseases like cholera. Tens of millions of others are seriously sickened by a host of water-related ailments many of which are easily preventable.

HOPE - A Health NGO in Pakistan knows the significance of environmental health, which is concerned with all aspects of the environment that may affect human health.

HOPE in collaboration with Procter & Gamble Pakistan, is making clean water accessible to the needy people by distributing P&G Purifier of Water. P&G Purifier of Water is used for preparing safe drinking water. One single sachet purifies up to 10 liters of brackish water. Compared with other products available in the market, P&G Purifier of Water leaves no salty or sour taste after drinking.

Last month the team HOPE visited Muzaffarabad, where clean drinking water is not easily accessible. Hence, the team gave a demonstration to the local community groups at Gharri Dupatta in order to provide them with the purifying kits that consisted of the following items : Cooler, Bucket, Muslin Cloth, Spatula and Pur sachets.

These kits were distributed among 20 families in Gharri Dupatta, Muzaffarabad, each family has an approximate of 8-9 members. Each family was given 3-4 boxes of Pur Sachet, each box consists of 240 Pur Sachets.  

HOPE - An NGO in Pakistan, distributed the water purifying kits and sachets, along with performing a demonstration of the completer procedure on how the drinking water is prepared and on how to use it correctly. The team specifically targets areas where the population is deprived of clean drinking water.

Under the leadership of Dr. Mubina Agboatwalla – A Child Specialist in Karachi, HOPE does its best to provide access to safe drinking water to millions of poverty-stricken people across Pakistan and takes it as a responsibility to help all those people who are misfortunate.