She Leads Conference Under Awareness to Action Project
02 days Leaning Forum / She leads conference, under Awareness to Action (A2A) project was held at Karachi on 31st May & 1st June. 2016. More than 200 Kirans and teachers received their incentives for dedicated and hard work in the community. The major objective of the program was to share the learning experiences and challenges faced by young girls of project beneficiaries in raising awareness for the important cause of child marriage. Kirans Leaders shared their personal and leadership stories. Different panel discussions were held including the main themes:
1. ‘Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013 and Rules of Business – The Role of Police in its implementation’
2. Role of Judiciary in the implementation of CMRA 2013′
3. Reflection from Development Partners and sustainability of the Kirans Movement.
Ms. Yasmeen Sabhi Qazi answering questions from Kirans
International Midwifery Day Celebration & Lamp Lighting Ceremony of CMWs Session 2016-2017
International Day of Midwifery was celebrated at CMW School HANDS Bin Qasim Town on 14th May 2016. Oath taking/ lamp lighting ceremony of junior students (March Batch.2016-17) of CMW School HANDS Jamkanda was also held during this event. All students one by one lighted their lamps from the lamp held by the Principal.All the midwifery students recited the midwifery oath. This ceremony was organized to make midwives dedicated, sincere to their profession to save motherhood and development of midwifery profession. Lighting of lamp further symbolized transfer of knowledge, skills and spirit of midwifery.HANDS Health program and district team were special guest of the day.Senior CMW students welcomed their juniors. The program was managed by senior students along with their teacher. It was very good
A view of Lamp Lighting Ceremony of CMWs Session 2016-2017
orientation for new and old students. Total 44 midwives and 20 guests participated.
Principal congratulated all students on the successful program and advised them to maintain highest standards of their noble profession and inculcate sense of maturity, empathy, dedication and commitment. The ceremony ended with refreshment and
a beautiful program arranged by senior midwifery students.
This program gave message to all that “Midwives are here to save motherhood in rural areas” Main purpose of these events is to celebrate the international day of midwifery 2016, do advocacy about importance of midwives, celebrate Lamp lighting ceremony and welcome new midwifery students session.2016-17
Celebration of Immunization Week
HAND Scelebrated World Immunization Week in various districts of Sindh, Punjab and KPK including Mansehra, Chiniot, Shaikhupura, Muzaffargarh, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad, Umerkot, Kunri, Dadu, Jamshoro, Rawalpindi and Bin Qasim town Malir. HANDS team undertook multiple activities daily for 07 consecutive days from 24th April to 30th April 2016. These activities included community based Awareness Sessions / walks / vaccination camps were especially designed and organized to highlight importance of immunization for maintaining good health of children, to highlight implications of avoiding vaccination on the health of children and also highlighted importance of immunization as one of the most important preventive measure from 09 deadly diseases in children. HANDS team also created
awareness among school going children in schools.
The celebration interventions were participated by wide range of beneficiaries and stakeholders such as parents, school children, youth, decision makers, religious leaders, representatives from Village Health Committees, health promoters, First Level Care facility staff members and health department officials. All interventions highlighted importance of immunization and need for increasing synergies for increasing immunization coverage.
HANDS Marvi workers participated actively in all community level awareness sessions and arranged walks to celebrate successful Immunization week. They mobilized community and made them aware about the importance of immunization which saves children from disabilities.They also delivered sessions about education, health & hygiene.
HANDS team shared work plan with BHU team Department of Health and organized Immunization camps for the vaccination of children and pregnant women. Total 2059 children and 751 women were immunized. Messages through posters were displayed in every camp, awareness walk and in awareness sessions.
Vaccination of Children at HANDS Hospital Jamkanda
To reduce the morbidity and mortality rate in children due to 09 preventable diseases and to achieve 100% coverage for eligible children by an ongoing integrated program, HANDS Hospital Jaamda vaccinated children in a continuation program of EPI, from 01 to 31st May.2016.Total 66 villages were covered. Total of 2375 children were provided with 16 different vaccinations.
A new born baby is being vaccinated at HANDS Jamkanda hospital
World Health Day Celebration by providing Free Medical Camp Services in HANDS Hospital
On World Health Day, a Free Medical Camp was organized on 7th April 2016 at HANDS Hospital Jamkanda.In this camp more than 800 patients were provided services of OPD,
Laboratory, Ultrasound, BMI Checkup & X-Ray Facilities. Details are following:
Pictorial Gallery
Body Mass Index (BMI) Services
Free Eye Medical Camp Under HANDS
Four free Eye Medical Camps were organized in months of April and May 2016 at HANDS Hospital Jamkanda, Mirpurkhas, Karachi Urban and Sanghar.In these camps more than 453 patients were provided services of eye checkup and Scanning for eye surgery. Free medical checkup and medicine were provided to patients. After camp, surgeries were held including IOL (Intra Ocular Lens) placement. These activities were undertaken with the collaboration of REDO Medical Complex in Punjab and AL Khalid Eye Trust in Karachi.
School Opening Ceremony
Sindh Community Mobilization Program along with USAID and Sindh Basic Education Program organized a high profile inauguration ceremony of first newly constructed Government Girls High School, Arain, District Sukkur on 10th May, 2016, where 577 guests from different walks of life participated. The event was chaired by Mr. Muhammad Abbass Baloch (Commissioner Sukkur), who formally inaugurated the school. Various well known personalities from district Education and Literacy department, NGOs, INGOs, SMC members, parents, Community members, students and all head teachers and SMC Chairman of all Construction Schools of district participated in this event. Event went as per agenda- inauguration through ribbon cutting,cultural songs, speeches, prize distributions, handing- taking over, inventory verification of school items, etc. Reporters from different print media,Associate press of Pakistan (APP) and electronic media covered the event.
Mr. Muhammad Abbass Baloch, Commissioner Sukkur Division lauded the efforts of USAID and SBEP partners in promoting the education in the district. He also proffered USAID for primarily focus on girl’s enrollment to decrease the girls drop out ratio especially at the primary level. He stated that he truly felt indented to USAID for bringing about change in education sector through its different measures.Mr. Ali Gul Bhutto, SMC Chairman, GGHS ARAIN, paid his gratitude to USAID for their generous contribution for considering the education for both girls and boys as it is an absolute way forward to cope with social and economic challenges. He also appreciated the efforts of SBEP partners & highlighted how important it is to hand over newly constructed schools to EMOs for effective management and quality education.
School Cleaning Activities
School cleaning is one of the major activities, where CMP team engages children, community, teachers and school administration to ensure that they are sensitized about the environment hygiene and keep their schools clean and conducive for learning. During the reporting period, CMP team facilitated communities to organize “School Cleaning Activity” in 130 schools of District Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Karachi. Significant number of children, parents, teachers and SMCs joined in cleaning the schools. CMP team provided cleaning kits and also rewarded the students who performed well in this activity. The purpose of this activity was to inculcate knowledge and raise awareness about health, nutrition and hygiene, which leads to behavior shift to keep schools safer and cleaner. The most interesting part of this activity was tree plantation followed by health awareness sessions. In these activities 6644 male and 4798 female participated including teachers, students, SMC members and community members.
Annual Implementation & Financial Plan
Yearly process of HANDS Implementation and Financial plan 2016-17 was initiated from 2nd May 2016 to 24th June 2016 by Monitoring Evaluation & Research Program (MER). HANDS 32 district offices developed and presented 99 Annual Implementation Plans (AIP) and Annual Financial Plans (AFP) of different projects. ME&R compiled all the projects data and simultaneously Finance Department consolidated the budget. During HANDS Governing Board meeting on 25th June 2016 these plans were presented and approved.
Training of Staff on Social Mapping in Enhanced Nutrition Mother and Child (ENMC) Project at District Tharparkar
HANDS Social Mobilization Program conducted Training of staff under Enhanced Nutrition Mother and Child (ENMC) project at Tharparkar in which overall steps of mobilization activities were discussed with staff to initiate project activities in the targeted area. Practical Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) activities were conducted at field level to clear concept of the Project team.
HANDS Shelter home for GBV Survivors
HANDS with the collaboration of Aurat Foundation/USAID have established Shelter/ Half way house. This project “Provide Safe Haven to GBV Survivors through institutionalizing Half Way House” is made possible under Gender Equity Program (GEP).
HANDS intends to fully capacitate the shelters to cater to the longer term needs of GBV survivors through a holistic rehabilitation mechanism in order to fully empower the women and equip them with required skills for successful re-integration in society. GBV survivors are referring to HANDS shelter homes through its 32 offices across Pakistan and from Panah shelter home and Binte Fatima Old Home Trust (Karachi hub partners).
HANDS shelter home management, as per the goal of the project is providing not only safe shelter/haven to needy women but also building confidence, health facility, skill
enhancement and different facilities to survivors.
Facilities at Shelter home:
Safe shelter and free boarding and lodging to women and their dependent children.
Strict Security with 24 hours guard and CCTV cameras.
Free service of Psychologist
Hygienic food and refreshments
Recreational activities and events
Medical checkup plus provision of vitamin and OPD facility
Arts and Crafts courses facility
Informal education
Technical/Diploma courses facility (outside)
Nursing and Midwifery courses for survivors.
Physical fitness facility room with equipment.
Training courses for GBV Survivors
Provision of Legal Aid.
Proper hygiene
Internship Program
HANDS launched its new Internship Program for students and fresh graduate keeping in mind the current and future challenges. HANDS in order to have successful run of internship program prepared its own manual which is endorsed by HRDN-Islamabad. This provides an opportunity to the young students to expose themselves to the rich experience of HANDS and its various programs. The program attracted the students at large and more than 11 students enrolled themselves as internees in Internship Program. They belong to various prestigious institutions like IBA, NED University, Habib University, Karachi Grammar School etc. They all are learning the technique of modern day working under the supervision of professionals. A student from Boston University USA is also working in HANDS as an internee for the last 01 month.
Celebration of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.Mother’s Day is a special day celebrated annually as a tribute to all mothers and motherhood.
The Community mobilization program facilitated Government Girls High School Mahota union council Fatehpur, taluka & district Larkana to celebrate this International day at school level.
The objectives of celebration was to raise awareness among the students on international day, why these days are important, to engage students in healthy activities, capacity building and confidence building of students by giving them opportunity to be part of different competitions.
Human Resource Development Trainings
HANDS – Pakistan through its Human and Institutional Development Program is striving to contribute to human development index of Pakistan which is currently 147 (UNDP Human Development Report 2015). HANDS chalked out many training programs directly related to the development of individuals. In the last 03 months more than 70 trainings were conducted for the development of under privilege community and trained more than 1300 individuals from different walk of life. HANDS also created an opportunity to expose its 31 staff members by sending them to Nepal on learning visit. HANDS employees were also trained by national and international trainers in different disciplines to meet the current and future needs. HANDS HR & ID Program organized three webinars for the staff in order to raise their knowledge on various subjects.
Annual School Day Celebration
CMP team conducted “Annual School Day” in 105 schools of District Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Karachi. The main purpose of ‘Annual School Day’ is to encourage School Management Committees/ Sub committees ‘ in organizing educational activities which create awareness of education among parents and communities; recognize performance of students in selected SBEP targeted schools as well as develop courage and confidence in students/ to increase girl’s enrollment. All main stakeholders of education including school children, teachers, parents, SMCs / subcommittee members, community members and district Education Officials and notables participated in the events. Speeches especially on education/girl’s education, tablows and prize/trophy distribution among the position holders were the part of the events.Enrollment walks at community and villages for girl’s enrollment were also arranged. A large numbers of students, teachers and community members participated in these walks.
Seminar on ‘Responding to Emergencies / Heat wave’ on 13th April 2016 at Karachi
in June 2015,severe heat wave with temperatures as high as 49 °C (120 °F) struck southern Pakistan causing deaths of about 2,000 people due to dehydration and heat stroke mostly in Sindh province and its capital city, Karachi. In the current year Pakistan Metrological department issued the warning for heat wave, therefore, cconsidering the situations and in the light of previous years’ experience, HANDS Provincial Disaster Risk Management Centre (PDRMC) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Government of Sindh decided to jointly organize a seminar on ‘Responding to Emergencies /Heat wave’ on Wednesday, 13th April 2016 at Karachi.
The main purpose of this Seminar was to bring all Stake holders on one table to share their expert opinion on identifying the weakness in 2015 crises and recommendations on existing practices,future challenges and formulate a strategy in management of Heat Wave emergency , for better preparation and readiness for such like crisis in future. Seminar was graced bydistinguished guests. Mr. Saeed Ahmed Awan Secretary Rehabilitation was the Chief Guest and was attended by, Director PDMA Sindh Mr. Abdul Aleem Lashari, Mr. Ajay Kumar Sewani,Mr.Syed Asif Hyder Shah Commissioner Karachi including Director Rescue 1299, Mr. Anis Usmani,Mr. Sardar Sarfraz Director Pakistan Metrological Department, Mr. Ahmed Jalal CEO Aman Foundation, Dr. Jamil Ahmed Siddiqui MS Civil Hospital Karachi, Dr. Simi Jamali Head of Emergencies JPMC Karachi, Mr. Ramzan Chippa Chairman Chippa Welfare Trust, Mr. Abdul QayumAhmadani Director Saylani Welfare and Dr. Samad Billoo, Expert on Health Emergency London-UK. Representatives of Media, colleagues from UN Organization, International NGOs, National NGOs, Government representatives, representatives from community Groups, Members of the HANDS Governing Board and HANDS team members, all General Managers, Executives and Chiefs also participated. At the conclusion of the Seminar, important recommendatuions arrived at are as under:
Pakistan Metrological department should introduce sophisticated weather prediction technology in Pakistan contributed to the heat wave.
Provincial Disaster Management Authority should develop comprehensive strategy to cope with such disastrous events in future.
PDMA & MET Department should establish Heat-Health Warning System (HHWS) in line with WMO guidelines (WMO, 2015), targeting the vulnerable segment of the urban centers.
Ensure proper dissemination of HHW to all vulnerable communities at gross-root level properly in-time.
Ensure involvement of all key stakeholders: (NDMA / PDMA / DDMAs, Commissioner office, PMD, NHEPRN, GCISC, Health Department, Rescue Services including Rescue 1299, NGOs and academia in Heat – Health Warning System (HHWS) under the leadership of PDMA Sindh.
Planned Awareness raising campaign (Through, Print, Electronic, Social Media, Banners, Brochures, pamphlets, posters should be launched at grass root level specially focusing on shelter less people, Workers and drug addicts.
Timely dissemination of Early Warning messages by all stake holders.
Adoption of prevention measures at all levels
Government should establish first Response Centres (FRC) in all provinces including Karachi.
Ensure availability of well defined Secondary and Tertiary Referral Centers (TRC)
Ensure capacity building of First respondent (Staff / Volunteers/ Service providers)
Preparatory measures by KEC to avoid failures of the electricity / grid.
Ensure capacity Building of Staff / Volunteers and Service providers on the Management of Heat Stoke affected patients.
Ensure proper coordination among all stake holder under the umbrella of PDMA Sindh including Implementation of SOPs
Establishment of Central Command and Control Center for coordination between various segments/Departments at PDMA /Commissioner Karachi Office for Karachi and at district level DDMAs (DC offices).
Ensure the involvement of trainings for Charity Organizations / NGOs in establishment of Heat stroke Centers in various parts of city.
Government and other stake holders should ensure the accommodation for the shelter less/homeless and drug addicts during hot period of the day.
Ensure availability of drinking water ice, hand towels and cold places.
Ensure stand-by generators at all relief camps/ work places.
Planned patient diversion as per guideline by Control Centre.
Media Management (Print , Electronic and Social )
Ensure proper measures by families especially for elderly people, Children, Birds and animals at house hold levels.
Ensure alternate beds at Hospitals to meet with any shortage.
Ensure availability of designated focal person at all Governmental/ Non Governmental institutes
Hospitals should follow proper Guidelines for Dead Bodies Management
PDMA should develop NGO’s and Volunteers Management Guidelines
People should take personnel protective measure by wearing of light color clothes, avoid drugs, alcohol, caffeine etc.
Mobilization of Private-Public partnership / philanthropists/ NGOs/Pharma and their coordinated actions to spread the relief across the city.
A Contact Directory for Karachi Division concerned with Heat Stroke Plan 2016 shall be prepared & circulated in all at the earliest to release any statement.
Disaster Prevention and Disaster Resilient Rehabilitation Project (DPDRR)
HANDS- Pakistan under Medico International and BMZ Funding Project “Disaster Prevention and Disaster Resilient Rehabilitation Project” is being implemented in four districts of Northern Sindh.Main objective of this project is to increase ability of Government institutions, civil society organizations and the population of 414 villages of the district Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore(Kandhkot) and Shikarpur to withstand natural disasters. In addition, 300 households of 06 villages in district Jacobabad to have access to basic social and productive infrastructure and stabilized livelihood.
In disaster risk reduction HANDS organized 04 quarterly coordination meetings at district level one in each district and organized 07 events of exchange program visit of DRR committees in district Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kandhkot and Ghotki. Total 184 participants from DRR committees participated in these events. Community has constructed 113 Protective Community Infrastructure schemes in 113 villages of four districts.
In rehabilitation of social and productive infrastructure, 80 toilets with septic tanks have been constructed in six villages of district Jacobabad, two protective community infrastructure schemes have been constructed in two villages and 300 solar lights have been distributed in six villages.
In livelihood, agriculture inputs like seed, fertilizer and land leveling, vouchers have been distributed to 210 beneficiaries and 18 small enterprises have been developed in six villages of district Jacobabad.
One training refresher was organized for staff for two days
at HANDS-DRMC Sukkur in the month of April 2016.
Sindh Heat Wave Anticipatory Response Project
Sindh Heat Wave Anticipatory Response Project is initiated with the purpose to reduce the impact of the anticipated heat
wave and to avert the major humanitarian crisis resulting
from the impending intense heat wave in coming weeks.
Oxfam leads the project at National level; however HANDS being a partner of Oxfam lead the project at Provincial level by coordinating with all partners including PDMA, PHF and OCHA.Project Partners are PDMA Sindh, Start Fund, Oxfam, HANDS, Muslim Aid, ACF and CWS.
Project is targeting Karachi, Thatta and Umerkot of Sindh province. HANDS and Muslim Aid are focusing on Karachi while ACF and Community World Service Asia (CWS) are
implementing the project in Thatta and Umerkot.
The Project interventions include:
l Identification and selection of most vulnerable areas for setting up temporary community camps/resource centres.
l Identification and selection of volunteers in each area for community mobilization
l Distribution of various IEC materials
l Enhancing referral mechanism through mapping of health facilities in the proposed locations and developing linkages of the temporary camps with these HFs and Govt emergency response centres.
l Increased coordination with the Government departments
Networking and Coordination Meetings
Radio campaigns through locally popular FM radio (in local languages) to spread key awareness messages related to the precautionary measures.
Through this particular response, communities will be enabled to have improved knowledge and awareness in order to reduce the potential effects of the anticipated heat waves in Sindh province.
Project Activities:
Identification of 32 volunteers including 16 male and 16 female to conduct awareness raising activities at camp or at household level.
Orientation Training of 32 community volunteers conducted on Sindh Heat wave anticipatory response project on May 17th, 2016 at HANDS Institute of Community Development ICD Gulshan Karachi.
8 locations were spotted for establishing camps at different accessible locations of Korangi Town.
Provision of First aid Box at these 08 camps comprising of 02 Spray Bottles for Sponging , 02 Water Bowles , 06 Glasses Plastic , 01 Folding Bed, 01 KG Towels Pieces , ORS (50 Packets), 01 Thermometer with antiseptic solution, 01 Solar
Fan, 01 Water Cooler (40 litres) have been planned.
Monitoring by Project Team & Government/PDMA Sindh