Eradicate Hunger and Malnutrition in Pakistan

Dear HOPE Friends, 

University Students from Chicago Pitch In to Sponsor Door-to-Door Iftars in the Northern Areas of Pakistan - Featuring Yusuf Foundation MCHCs

This Ramadan, in a heartwarming gesture of support for the needy, a group of college students from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Depaul University, and College of Dupage banded together to form a collection for HOPE's Door-to-Door Iftars.  Altogether, they were able to raise enough funds to provide meals for underserved children and adults at all four of Yusuf Foundation's Maternal and Child Health Centers in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

• According to Unicef, Pakistan has the highest Infant Mortality Rate in the world - 1 in 22 infants are at risk for dying within a month of birth.  

• Similarly, Pakistan's Maternal Mortality Rate accounts for 28% of the global total - one woman passes away from pregnancy complications every 37 minutes.  

• Though these statistics are dire, there is a tremendous opportunity for intervention as 80% of infant deaths and 33% of maternal deaths in Pakistan are preventable.

Over the course of almost three decades, HOPE has been able to make tremendous strides with regards to mitigating the adversely high Maternal and Infant Mortality rates in Pakistan.  By working at a grassroots level in underserved communities and providing free access to healthcare to mothers and babies, HOPE has been diligently and resourcefully taking advantage of the statistically-backed windows of opportunities to save lives. 

Most recently, our efforts have been catapulted by the tremendous generosity of Yusuf Foundation -  through Yusuf Foundation's backing, HOPE has been able to expand into the Northern Areas of Pakistan, remote village regions in which no health facilities previously existed for disadvantaged populations.  

Over the course of the past three years, Yusuf Foundation has sponsored construction and operational costs of three MCHCs in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Mansehra, KPK, Garhi Habibullah, KPK, and Muzaffargarh, Punjab) along with adopting a fourth MCHC in Azad Kashmir.  Altogether, these facilities provide 24/7 no-cost healthcare to 200,000 villagers annually, 70% of whom are women and children. 

By providing prenatal, postnatal, and infant/child healthcare during critical times, HOPE/Yusuf Foundation's MCHCs have been able to impact regions in which mothers traditionally gave birth in their own homes with no assistance - often with precarious consequences such as hemorrhaging or other severe labor complications.  These MCHCs have had a transformative effect in their respective regions, especially with regards to enhancing Maternal and Infant health for these communities.  

Featured in these pictures are the UIUC, Depaul, and COD students' contributions towards making a difference in the rugged terrain of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

We would like to extend our appreciation to the Chicago students' for their initiative in making a difference this Ramadan.  The HOPE Team was so touched by their gesture that we chose to dedicate their gift to the regions impacted by Yusuf Foundation's life-saving efforts. 

Links:

• Garhi Habibullah Door-to-Door Short Clip on Facebook

Dear HOPE Friends, 

Ramadan in Azad Kashmir - 500 Home School Children Participate in Sit-Down Iftar and Eid Clothes Distribution - Featuring AJK Government Officials

Last week, 500 disadvantaged students from HOPE's Thotha Parhor and Dhani Bakala Home Schools in AJK convened to participate in a community iftar event presided by AJK government officials and the HOPE Field team.  

Throughout the year and in Ramadan, the HOPE Team strives to initiate community events to foster emotional development and generate fond memories amongst children living in dire conditions.  After enjoying a meal together, the children are presented with new Eid Clothes by which they can feel special and included for the upcoming holiday.

HOPE's AJK Maternal and Child Healthcare Coordinator, Ms. Sanjeeda, along with HOPE's AJK Home School Coordinator, Ms. Naila, worked diligently to execute a Sit-down Iftar and Eid Clothes distribution for 500 Home School children.  Among our special guests in attendance were Dr. Tahir Moghal (Deputy Health Officer of District Jhelum) along with Divisional Director of Education, Mr. Jalil Jalali.

Divisional Director of Education, Mr. Jalil Jalali, appreciated the efforts of HOPE and said, "HOPE's work in the education and health spheres is truly commendable and worthy of emulation."

Deputy Health Officer, Dr. Tahir Rahim Mughal, also recognized the role of HOPE in promoting public health and considered HOPE's impact in the region significant.

We are extremely grateful to Ms. Sanjeeda and Ms. Naila, along with Dr. Tahir Moghal and Mr. Jalil Jalali, for their relentless dedication and efforts to promote poverty alleviation efforts throughout the rough terrain of AJK.  They have all gone above and beyond the call of duty to create change and transform lives.  We also wanted to thank Journalist Syed Yousaf Hamdani and Mubarak Hussain Awwan as well as UrduPaper for capturing these special moments for us. 

All the best to our dedicated supporters as the last few days of Ramadan grace us!

Links:

• Journalist Hamdani's Post
• Mubarak Awan's Post
• HOPE USA Website