Gurais Valley Seeks Community Health Center
...proposed CHC-Community Health Center as well, in forthcoming days. We have had to send the trained ladies back to Gurais before the snowfall, this winter.
Keeping in view the sufferings of the people especially the women of Neelum Valley, Pakistan Relief is planning to establish a Community Health Center at village Nekrun, Gurais in summer 2010. There, we wish to appoint a lady doctor as well.
Besides, as a preliminary intervention to build the capacity of entire community, we are in the process of training both men and women at First Aid, as well. So far, 457 men and women have been trained.
The Trainees:
All the ten female candidates for the Midwifery Training Program at FMS are selected from various villages. Since there are no girls college in the area so the majority of women are not much educated. The trainees might have either attended school for eight years or ten years, completing Middle or High School education, respectively. In this regard, we requested FMS to consider it as a special case and solely on humanitarian grounds to allow these ladies to bring a glimmer of knowledge and hope to their homes.
The successful completion of the first module of Midwifery Training Program has paved the way to provide better health care to women of Gurais valley. This program is being seen as the foundation for establishing a Community Health Center in the area in the nearest future.
Background
Neelum Valley is one of the remotest corners of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. The Gurais valley is situated up farther in an amazing and world renowned hilly tract where great mountain ranges of "Himalayas", "Pir Panjal" and "Zanskar" meet. The area remains snowbound six months a year. There is not a single male doctor available in Gurais valley. Besides, no Lady Doctor is available to be consulted in the entire valley that stretches at least 180 to 200 kilometers of distance. Due to the uneven dirt track it takes 14 to 18 hours to bring a patient to state capital Muzaffarabad in a 4x4 jeep. Many times, the thoroughfare remains closed due to other obstacles like landslides and glaciers. In past, peace remained always deceptive because of Indian firing and shelling since the valley is situated right on the LoC-Line of Control. Almost 35,000 people face immense hardships due to poor health facilities in the region. The women, children and old are most vulnerable. A doctor from Pakistan Army is only glimmer of hope for entire valley who examines the patients. But those with serious problems always need to be referred to the city, which is not an easy as well as economical task.
LoC- Line of Control
Kashmir is a disputed territory and the entire Neelum district is located right at the Line of Control so the peace remains deceptive. The river "Neelum" is considered to be a boundary. In past Indian border forces remained engaged in atrocities like firing and artillery shelling on the civilians. Many times these poor people were forced to leave their homes, suddenly and helplessly. Many of the people of Gurais have lost heir homes three times since 1948. Their homes, sometime along with family members too, were burnt due to Indian shelling. Fortunately, there is cease-fire now.
Potential hazards in the area:
War
Earthquake
Land/Mud Slides
Avalanches
Flash floods
Other accidents
Acknowledgment:
For the ongoing Midwifery Training Program and First Aid Training Program funds were collected at Gurais Valley’s sister community- Pagosa Springs, Colorado, USA. During a Pakistani Dinner a sum of 11,500 $ had been raised. Some Pakistani hand knotted carpets and other handicrafts were also auctioned. A number of children, men and women participated enthusiastically to contribute for these educational programs.