|
|
|
September 16, 2004
Rehabilitating the disabled
A Sindh-based NGO is helping disabled women of four of Karachi localities. Naseer Ahmad writes about the services provided by this organization
It is a pleasant late August afternoon. The sun is dipping slowly into the horizon. A cool breeze gently stirs the trees in the Nisar Shaheed Park. Joggers and walkers in their running shoes and tracksuits are busy chasing away their health worries. Some people sit on the benches gossiping. Others are doing push-ups or just lolling about on the green grass.
What are a score or so women with various disabilities doing in these surrounding? They are waiting for more such women to turn up. A bus has been sent to collect them from Mahmoodabad, Azam Basti, Manzoor Colony and Punjab Colony. A total of 80 are expected to finally gather there.
Mrs Fatima Mansuri, head of a non-governmental organization, and a couple of her colleagues are occupying a bench in the park, situated in the Defence Housing Authority. Seated next to her in a wheelchair is Nafisa Wazir, a well-known social worker devoted to the cause of the handicapped.
When half the expected number of the handicapped women have arrived, Mrs Mansuri begins the meeting. She explains to them in detail the next plan for their rehabilitation. They are going to learn cloth cutting, stitching and other arts and crafts. A literacy programme is also planned for them. Earlier, these women from poor backgrounds were provided with supporting equipment, physiotherapy and counselling.
Mrs Mansuri told TR that the programme for the rehabilitation of handicapped women of the four settlements had been initiated about two-and-a-half years ago. After a survey of 1,000 houses in each locality, 57 handicapped women were selected for rehabilitation. Area councillors were asked for information.
A centre was set up in Mahmoodabad for the women’s physiotherapy. They were given wheelchairs, hearing aids and walking sticks and whatever they needed. A bus ferried them daily to the centre and back home.
“Later, we realized that it was better that they get assistance near their homes, and we made arrangements for it with the help of lady health workers living within their neighbourhoods. Twelve of the women have recovered and begun working in houses,” said Mrs Mansuri, who is partly visually handicapped but mentally very alert.
At the park meeting, women receiving aid from the NGO are quite vocal. They appreciate the help they have received, but do not mince words when it comes to complaining about what is lacking.
“The hearing aid you gave me last week is not functioning properly,” a woman is heard saying.
“I was told that the bus would pick me up at 4:00 pm but it arrived at 6:30 pm,” says a woman who was among the batch that arrived late at the venue.
Mrs Mansuri hears them out patiently and tries to satisfy their queries and remove their misgivings.
The NGO has a group of supporters who attend its meetings regularly.
“We have got a small funding of our own. Some philanthropists and friends also contribute to it. Now we will hire a house where a group known as Jugnu will impart the women basic literacy,” says Mrs Mansuri. “Another place will be hired to train them in income-generating arts and crafts.”
Mrs Mansuri and the NGO’s work might not be impressive. They have just focused on four low-income settlements with limited resources at their disposal. But their work may inspire other groups eager to help people in distress.
|
|
|
|
