Helping the Pakistan poor help themselves to better health

People packed into the slums of Lahore, Pakistan suffer from common ailments  like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular problems and infectious diseases such as typhoid, malaria and gastroenteritis. They often watch their newborns and infants die due to malnutrition and low birth weight. All of these medical problems are treatable, but most of these poorest of the poor have no access to medical care.

That’s why our partner, United Christian Hospital (UCH) in Lahore, Pakistan, launched a program to teach the people how to stop illness before it starts, with an emphasis on the health of mothers and children. In a recent report they describe how they first organized one-day medical “camps” to screen people for disease, offer treatment, and direct them to UCH for necessary surgeries. People who attended the “camp” were given free examinations and free medicine.

Then, our friends at UCH identified community leaders in different slum areas to work with Midwifery students to educate the community about nutrition, hygiene, family planning, sanitation—anything that will affect their health and prevent disease.  

Reports from United Christian Hospital in Pakistan and our other partners in developing countries keep us informed about the ways donor gifts are making a difference in the lives of people all over the world.