HDF Giving Hope to All

Shammi was pale, hopeless, and suffering from severe low blood count when HDF community health workers found her in Union Council Bagh-o-Bahar, Tehsil Khanpur in Rahim Yar Khan. The Hindu scheduled caste lady had moved into the area recently with her husband, Gurdas. She had already gone through the heartache of losing two children in four unsuccessful pregnancies within two years.

Her family survives on only the income they receive from their livestock and Gurdas did not have the financial resources to secure quality treatment for his wife. Desperate for some kind of relief, he turned to an HDF Community Health Worker (CHW) who brought them to the Community Health Center (CHC).

HDF’s Primary Healthcare program provides health services to deprived communities, particularly focusing on the wellbeing of mothers and children. Over the years, HDF has considerably lowered infant mortality rate, bringing it to 27/1000 live births in its partner communities.

The health team at our CHC provided Shammi with the necessary treatment. She was given free medicines and was asked to come for weekly checkups. Our CHWs carried out regular follow up visits guiding Shammi and her husband on health, hygiene and proper nutrition. After a year, the birth of a healthy baby girl restored happiness to their household.

“I was on the verge of death when we came to first visit the CHC. I’ll always be thankful to HDF’s health workers for bringing me here and for the HDF doctor and CHC staff for giving me the treatment I needed with such care and respect. I pray for them every day.”
-Shammi Gurdas

Shammi with her husband and baby daughter