The project got funded!

So this has just been confirmed. The Jaroka tele-health project, that we are developing has received further boost as it successfully received joint grant funding from USAID and HEC. Our's was one of the 19 applications that got funded from a pool of 116. The funding is for two years, commencing from April 1, 2008 to develop and deploy the Jaroka tele-health system for rural Mardan district (NWFP, Pakistan) and for capacity building of local healthcare professionals including Lady Health Workers. The project will also deploy Pakistan's first mobile based tele-health services in rural Pakistan. Once successful, it will be replicated in other parts/districts of Pakistan.

The project provides financial support to procure medical equipment, essential hardware to run tele-health services and even covers the salaries of two medical doctors and other healthcare professionals..

Our partners in this grant are APPNA, NUST, UM Healthcare Trust and Cogilent Solutions.

Give Peace a Chance through Health, Education and Entrepreneurship

I received some valuable feedback from readers on my earlier blog titled, Give youth a chance. Therefore, I am now revising and expanding the blog and have added a few more sections to clarify my point of view. So please keep those comments/feedback coming.

The health, education and employment statistics of Pakistan in general and NWFP province in particular are nothing short of a disaster. These numbers are further worsened by the influx of millions of Afghan refugees who have made the NWFP province their home for the past three decades or so.

NWFP or North West Frontier Province is the smallest of the four provinces of Pakistan, which has a population of about 20 million people and covers an area of 75,000 square kilometers. It borders Afghanistan to the west, Punjab and Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan to the south and Azad Kashmir to the east. It also encompasses Federally Administered Tribal Areas, FATA as an autonomous region within NWFP. The current war on terror waged by the coalition forces in the neighboring Afghanistan, usually spills into this province as well. At the time of writing of this blog, Pakistan armed forces were busy pursuing Talibans within the FATA and Swat district of NWFP in a heavy military campaign.

Table 1: Pakistan Health Indicators (Source United Nations)

Pakistan’s health infrastructure is also poor, especially in rural areas. Almost 30% of children under the age of five are malnourished. There are approximately 70 physicians for every 100,000 people in the country and a mere 1,000 government run hospitals to cater to the entire population. It is no wonder that 70% of the population of Pakistan (WHO statistic) never gets to see a doctor in their entire life. For a country of 160 Million people, that is a gigantic population (almost 110 million) without access to basic healthcare.

Table 2: Population Statistics of Pakistan & NWFP (Source Government of Pakistan)

The north of the Pakistan suffers from heavy unemployment as well. Major source of jobs in NWFP includes agriculture, mining of precious stones, granite/marble quarries, and government jobs. Other than these, there are hardly any sustainable job opportunities for the youth. The industrialization and economic uplift that we get to see in major metropolitan cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad is totally non-existent here. In other words, the economic boom (that has griped the urban centers of the country) has had little impact on the rural communities.

Table 3: Education Statistics of Pakistan & NWFP population in percentage (Source: Govt of Pakistan)

The government school system in the rural areas has also not grown over the years. In fact, it is straining under the pressure of over population (the population has doubled since 1981 census from 80million to 160millon today). Almost 47% of the population of NWFP is under the age of 15 that is a staggering 8 million children (Source Govt of Pakistan). The private schools are too expensive and therefore the local communities can hardly afford to send their children to such institutions. With the result, an uneducated population grows up that has no real prospect of securing jobs even in the more competitive bigger cities. Those who still want to get an education then prefer to enroll in the local religious schools called, Madrassas, which offer free room and board as well as their brand of religious philosophy.

With no employment, no healthcare and no prospects of a better life, many of the talented, prefer to emigrate or work abroad especially in the Middle East. They spend years toiling in the heat of the desert without seeing their families for years while sending back precious dinars/dollars so that their kids could one day have a better life. But not all are lucky to find a job locally or go abroad. Those with no sustained income usually end up being pulled into the lucrative illegal drug trafficking between the Afghanistan and Pakistan border areas. Or as it is now commonly happening, become members of some radical religious organization, including Talibans.

These youths are victim of their environment and society. If we want them to succeed and give up drug trade and put down their AK-47s and suicide bombings then we need to give them what is their basic right as a human being. Namely, a chance for a better education, improved health care and ability to become entrepreneurs (or have secure jobs). No amount of carpet bombing or military actions can stop them from becoming radical. But a book, a job and better health can transform them and their families forever.

I only became aware of this appalling situation once we had started establishing a free hospital in NWFP province under UM Healthcare Trust in the outskirts of Mardan District (near the Swat Valley). As we meet and interact more with the local community, it becomes only clear that war is not the solution to all the problems. Edhi Foundation, Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute, The Citizen's Foundation and many other such non-profits believe that the world can be a better place if we just give youth a chance and give them an opportunity to make something of themselves. Sadly, this logic and insight is lost on the current leaders of the world who are bent upon changing the world with their might, bombs and cruise missiles. Their philosophy of “smoking” the enemy out has not been successful in making the world a better and safer place and is not likely to have any sustained impact either. Only education, health and entrepreneurship can make the difference.

Therefore, I request all to write to their Members of Parliament, Senators, Congressmen, your MNAs and MPAs and ask them that they have done enough to wage war on the world, now what are they doing to bring peace to the society.

Give youth a chance

The health statistics of the whole province (North West Frontier Province, NWFP) are nothing short of a health disaster. These numbers are further worsened by the influx of millions of Afghan refugees who have made the province their home for the past three decades or so. We, as part of UM Healthcare Trust, are involved in building a free hospital for the rural community of the Mardan District and also a site for our Tele-healthcare initiative.

Location	District Mardan, NWFP, Pakistan
Populationon	1.6 Million
District Hospitals	2
Basic Health Units	50
Infant Mortality Rate	76/1000 child births
Maternal Mortality	201/1000 live births

For a population of over 1.6 million in Mardan District, there are just 2 district hospitals with a less than hundred beds. The Basic Health Units (BHUs) are one room clinics and if operational (usually they are locked with no one on duty) sometimes manned by a doctor or a healthcare professional. The primary purpose of these units is to provide vaccinations (especially to children) and occasional trainings on preventive medicine (to the rural population). It is no wonder that 70% of the population of Pakistan (WHO statistic) never gets to see a doctor in their entire life. For a country of 160 Million people, that is a gigantic population (almost 110 million) without access to basic healthcare.

The north of the Pakistan suffers from heavy unemployment as well. Major source of jobs in NWFP includes agriculture, mining of precious stones, granite/marble quarries, and government jobs. Other than these, there are hardly any other job opportunities for the youth. The industrialization and economic uplift that we get to see in major metropolitan cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad is totally non-existent here. In other words, the economic boom (that has griped the urban centers of the country) has had little impact on the rural communities.

The government school system in the rural areas has also not grown over the years. In fact, it is straining under the pressure of over population. The private schools are too expensive and therefore the local communities never send their children to study. With the result, an uneducated population grows up that has no real prospect of securing jobs even in the more competitive bigger cities. Those who still want to get an education then prefer to enroll in the local religious schools called, madarasas.

With no employment, no healthcare and no prospects of a better life, many of the talented, prefer to emigrate or work abroad especially in the Middle East. They spend years toiling in the heat of the desert without seeing their families for years while sending back precious dinars so that their kids could one day have a better life.

But not all are lucky to find a job locally or go abroad. Those with no sustained income usually end up being pulled into the lucrative drug trade between the Afghanistan and Pakistan border areas. Or as it is now commonly happening, become members of some radical religious organization.

These youths are victim of their environment and society. If we want them to succeed and give up drug trade and put down their AK-47s and suicide bombings then we need to give them what is their basic right as a human being. Namely, a chance for a better education, improved healthcare and ability to become entrepreneurs (or have secure jobs). No amount of carpet bombing or military actions can stop them from becoming radical. But a book, a job and better health can transform them and their families forever.

Edhi Foundation, Central Asia Institute, The Citizen's Foundation and many other such non-profits believe that the world can be a better place if we just give youth a chance. Sadly, this doctrine is lost on the current leaders of the world who are bent upon changing the world with their might, bombs and cruise missiles.

One Man's Mission to Promote Peace

Greg Mortenson is an American hailing from small town of Bozeman, Montana. Yet, he is one of the most revered personalities in Northern Pakistan. In the past fifteen years that he has worked in the Baltistan and NWFP region (Northern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan to the west, China to the North and India to the east), he has impacted the society in a way no other foreigner has been able to do for the last two millennium. He has given the children of Northern Pakistan a unique gift that their ancestors never had. Education. Building over 63 schools at the roof of the world and in the shadow of K2, the world's second tallest mountain, he has transformed the lives of villagers and especially women through his Central Asian Institute (CAI).

His story as chronicled in Three Cups of Tea, One Man's mission to promote peace, one school at a time, (http://www.threecupsoftea.com), is of remarkable courage, determination and single minded focus is nothing short of a Hollywood saga. It all began in 1993 when he decided to climb K2, the world's most difficult peak to scale. On his way back from the unsuccessful attempt, he lost his way and almost froze to death on the rugged mountain. However, by stroke of luck, he was able to stumble upon a remote village, Korphe (which did not exist on any maps at the time). The inhabitants were extremely hospitable and nursed the big burly mountaineer back to health. Moved by their kindness, he promised to build a school for them.

He returned to California, and with no money in his pockets or in the bank, was faced with the prospect of not being able to keep the promise for the villagers of Korphe. And thus began the saga and the legend of Greg Mortenson. Living almost at the edge of poverty, and saving every penny that he earned, for the promised school in the remotest part of the world, he ventured on a journey that continues to this day. His CAI (Greg Mortenson is the co-founder with Dr. Jean Hoerni and Executive Director of nonprofit Central Asia Institute http://www.ikat.org) institute has brought more positive impact and good name for USA in Taliban infested region, than anything that the American President has done with his official propaganda and development programs. His schools that cost one-fifth of what World Bank would spend and half of what the Government of Pakistan allocates enroll over thirty thousand students all over.

Girls in CAI sponsored schools

Truly, he is one of the greatest social entrepreneurs the world has ever seen. Someone who should be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.

DHL YES Awards Results

The results are in. I secured 2nd Runner's up prize for the DHL YES Awards for Young Social Entrepreneur of 2007 in the nationwide competition in Pakistan for my Jaroka, Tele-health project that I have been pursuing.

The DHL YES Awards aim to recognize and celebrate the contribution of young individuals who are evolving existing and/or using new innovative methods to bring about positive social change in their communities.

DHL has put together a case study document of all social entrepreneurs who received the DHL YES Awards. Please read the case study document to find out more about these outstanding individuals and their work.

Please click here to see the pictures from the award ceremony on August 24, 2007 in Karachi, Pakistan.

A Saint Among Us

It were the mid 1980s. I was not yet a teenager. And one warm night in Lahore, I listened to this elderly man, give a passionate speech. He sported a long white beard and wore ragged black kamiz shalwar, and in a soft but stern voice, he declared, “I will build a network of health centers over the 1500 km main highway connecting Karachi to Peshawar. And after every 50 kilometers there will be a small basic health center manned by an ambulance. These services are for all mankind free of cost.”

Everyone around me had incredulous looks.
“It cannot be done!”
“It cannot be managed!”
“It will be a white elephant!”

The cries could be heard from every nook and corner of the country. After all, he relied only on charity and that too from individuals. He had no personal sources of financing this ambitious project, nor did he have backing of a large corporation. Not even the government, not at least financially. How can he do it?

Yet, his humble but determined personality and a strong conviction of his ideals made me wonder, can he really do it?

In between that some twenty odd years have passed. And since that time, the world around us has changed for the good. And today, if you drive along the Grand Trunk Road in Pakistan, you will notice small but clearly marked health centers every 50 kilometers which are manned by volunteers and notice a small ambulance parked outside. In fact, his ambitious and grand project has gone beyond the Grand Trunk Highway in Pakistan. His established network now owns and manages over 700 ambulances which also includes two airplanes and helicopters. His vast network of ambulances on average transports over 1 million people annually in Pakistan alone and is extremely critical for rual communities considering that 70% of Pakistanis do not have access to a doctor. And all of it is being sustained by, now get this, by individual donors and charity given by folks like you and me. Yes, no corporate schmoozing involved! Today, it is ranked as the largest free ambulance service in the world. And the man, rather a modern day Saint, who made this dream possible is Abdul Sattar Edhi.

Edhi Center with an ambulance parked outside

His Edhi Foundation, (established in 1951 in the city of Karachi, Pakistan) seems to be breaking all the norms of what we have been taught about raising funds for the non-profit sector. There are no elaborate business plans. Nor any documents being submitted for funding to any world bodies. There are no stunning power point presentations pushing their vision onto the donors baskets. None of that at all. He has one simple plan. Do something good for the humanity.

He and his wife, Mrs Bilquees Edhi, are always at the forefront themselves. Always leading by example and in times of disasters, always there even before the likes of Red Cross, United Nations or Governments themselves. And it is not just the foundation and volunteers who get there first, it is Mr. Edhi and his wife who are the first to reach the site of the disaster, be it at any part of Pakistan, and at times in the world. And to see him work day and night and live among the victims where he eats, sleeps and works humbles us all. Here is a saint, nay, someone far greater.

The gentle folks of Pakistan and from neighboring countries donate in droves. His network never runs out of money and his ambulances are never without gas or spare parts. They service a community whom the world in general and the local government in particular has forgotten. His army of volunteers can be marshaled at a minutes notice without the need of elaborate communication mechanism. And together, they are changing the way care is provided to the needy. His actions and plans are redefining the non-profit sector and hopefully for the good.

Today, Edhi foundation is the most trusted name in Pakistan when it comes to donation. Almost every penny is spent on the poor with hardly any overheads. Edhi foundation is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing medical care, emergency and relief services, air ambulances, burial services, mental habitats, old homes, child welfare services, abused women safe houses and training facilities for the disadvantage.

He is an inspiration to millions like me. He had a vision and backed it up with his unwavering determination. He believes in the general good among us all. And we believe in what he can deliver and donate to his work in hoards. He has proven by example how unexpected things can be achieved.

For more information about Edhi or his foundation, check out the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edhi_Foundation
http://www.edhifoundation.com/

Finalist in DHL YES Awards for Social Entrepreneurship

This year (2007), DHL has launched the DHL Young Entrepreneurs for Sustainability Awards (DHL YES Awards) for Asia Pacific region. The goal of the award is to identify and recognise the contributions of young people who are implementing new and innovative methods and practices to bring about positive social change in their communities. Such young individuals are usually referred to as 'social entrepreneurs'.

The inaugural DHL YES Awards take place in 2007 in five countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

I also submitted my Tele-healthcare Jaroka project to this competition. After the preliminary interviews, project document submissions, and presentations, I have been informed that I have made it among the finalists in Pakistan. This in itself is a great achievement and recognition of the innovative work done by Tele-healthcare team in Pakistan.

The DHL appointed jury shall now decide upon the final winner from Pakistan who will then compete with the winners from the rest of the region for the regional award.