Jaroka Shortlisted for ISIF Grant opportunity

Our project focused on Capacity building of lady health workers in rural areas through the use of ICT and mobile based Tele-Healthcare (extension of Jaroka project) has been shortlisted for the first round of ISIF Grant opportunity. Total of 11 projects have been shortlisted from the 148 applications received. Our representatives is invited to a workshop in Hyderabad, India in December 2008 for a further round of evaluations and a chance to meet other social entrepreneurs doing great stuff all over Asia.

UM Healthcare Trust is Hiring Medical Professionals

This September, UM Healthcare Trust medical facility in rural Mardan district opened its doors to the poor on a regular basis. The facility has quickly grown in stature and popularity among the local community. On September 22, 2008, eleven days after its official opening, over 100 patients streamed into the facility in a single day. With only one doctor and one nurse on duty, and this being the holy month of Ramadan, is truly a momentous task. What is even more remarkable is that these patients are being treated at near zero cost and are also provided heavily subsidized medicines.

The patient traffic is growing by the day and especially after Ramadan, the facility is witnessing a huge surge in patient walkins. One of the major reasons for that is that there are no quality hospitals/clinics in the nearby area and people seeking medical care are flocking to it.

UM Healthcare is currently recruiting medical professionals for their team in Mardan. All those interested can apply online at Pakistan's largest job portal, BrightSpyre (http://health.brightspyre.com). Currently, UM Healthcare is seeking lady doctors and female nursing staff (including midwives) among others. BrightSpyre has graciously consented to assist UM healthcare Trust hire the best for free as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

UM Healthcare Trust is a non-profit with the aim to provide affordable healthcare to the rural communities of Pakistan. It was established in 2004 and currently operates a medical facility in rural Mardan district (180KM North of Islamabad).

The need for better health care in rural Pakistan

Health care services in rural Pakistan suffer a great deal from ill management and lack of will and focus by the government. This accompanying video depicts the condition of one such government run facility in rural Mardan District of NWFP, Pakistan.



Rustum Civil Hospital, located 200 KM north of Islamabad, was established during the British Raj era (Pre 1947) during their expansion into this region. However, since that time, its quality and services have deteriorated to a level where it has become non-functional. There is only one doctor on duty and he too is never to be seen at the facility (at least we did not find him anywhere in the hospital during our visit). There are no nurses or paramedics on duty but there are a few listed in the hospital register and receive regular monthly salaries from ministry of health. Only one lab technician and some support staff were present during our visit. The facility has no regular flow of patients, as they tend to stay away and seek health services elsewhere.

Children's ward, x-ray lab, pharmacy and other such regular services were closed for business. In fact, the doors to them were permanently padlocked. Even the government provided ambulance was locked up and not in use. The facility had in-patient beds but no nurses or doctors to care for sick. There was an operation's theatre but it was highly unhygienic and therefore, cause of more diseases. Over all the conditions were really poor and not suitable for a health facility.

This is a huge facility built over many acres. It would be advisable if government proactively outsources all such facilities that they are unable to manage and run properly. A lot of resources (utilities, space, salaries etc) and precious lives are being lost each day. They should let a non-profit with experience of running such facilities be allowed to bid and run such facilities on a long term basis (ten years or more). The government should then concentrate on regulating them only and making sure they meet the minimum criteria for health care services. We believe this way, many of the government resources will be productively used and the rural communities will get improved health care services in the long term. It is definitely a win-win situation for all.