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Edhi established his first welfare centre and then the Bilqis Edhi Trust with a mere Rs. 5000. What started as a one-man show operating from a single room in Karachi is now the Edhi Foundation, the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. The foundation has over 300 centers across the country, in big cities, small towns and remote rural areas, providing medical aid, family planning and emergency assistance. They own air ambulances, providing quick access to far-flung areas In Karachi alone, the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic centers, surgical units, a 4- bed cancer hospital and mobile dispensaries. In addition to these the Foundation also manages two blood banks in Karachi. 20,000 abandoned babies have been saved 40,000 qualified nurses have been trained 50,000 orphans are housed in Edhi Homes 1 million babies have been delivered in Edhi Maternity Centers Edhi is to Karachi what Mother Teresa was to the poor of Calcutta. Edhi and wife Bilquees have spent a lifetime working for people and their welfare work to date remains unparalleled in Pakistan. They are both very private people who shun publicity. They have had little formal education, and are totally committed to the cause of helping the poor and needy.
Edhi established his first welfare centre and then the Edhi Trust with a mere Rs. 5000 [$1000]. The Edhi Foundation grew as people began to recognize its humanitarian aims. In 1973 when an old apartment building collapsed in Karachi, Edhis ambulances and volunteers were the first to reach the scene and start rescue operations. From then, on, through the troubles in Karachi and all over the country, Edhis ambulances have been rescuing and taking the injured to hospitals and burying unclaimed bodies. They go to places where even government agencies hesitate to venture. The Edhi Foundation is the first of its kind in South Asia that owns air ambulances, providing quick access to far-flung areas. Whether it is a train accident or a bomb blast, Edhi ambulances are the first to arrive. The foundation relies on the support of its 3, 500 workers and thousands of volunteers who form the backbone of the organization
Edhi's Founder
Despite the growth of the foundation, Edhi remains a very down to earth person. Dressed always in a grey homespun cotton, he has a hands on approach to his work, sweeping his own room and even cleaning the gutter if need be. Apart from the one room, which he uses for his living quarters, the rest of the building serves as his workplace in Mithadar, a locality of old Karachi that is full of narrow streets and congested alleyways. Adjoining their living room is a small kitchen where Bilquees usually prepares the midday meal. Next to it is a washing area where bodies are bathed and prepared for burial. When Edhi is not travelling to supervise his other centres, a typical day for him begins at five in the morning with Fajr prayers. His work starts thereafter answering any calls for help, organizing and meeting people in need while afternoons are spent at various centres and hospitals all over the city. In the evening he dines with hundreds of poor at his "langar" [free community meals common among Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs] at another Edhi centre in the city. His Fridays are invariably spent at homes for the destitute children where Edhi personally helps bathe the ones who are physically handicapped, before joining them for Friday prayers. Occasionally, when he is able to, he also takes them out for picnics.
Commissioned doctors visit jails on a regular basis and also supply food and other essentials to the inmates. There are 15 " Apna Ghar" ["Your Homes"] homes for the destitute children, runaways, and psychotics and the Edhi Foundation states that over the years 3 million children have been rehabilitated and reunited with their families thorough the Edhi network. The foundation also has an education scheme, which apart from teaching reading and writing covers various vocational activities such as driving, pharmacy and paramedical training. The emphasis is on self-sufficiency. The Edhi Foundation has branches in several countries where they provide relief to refugees in the USA , UK , Canada , Japan , and Bangladesh . In 1991 the Foundation provided aid o victims of the Gulf war and earthquake victims in Iran and Egypt .
Rural Centres
Rural Welfare Centres will be established to organise medical and other aids to the poverty and drought stricken areas of Utthal in Baluchistan, and Thar and Cholistan in Sindh. These centres will supplement the Foundations relief centres already in Operation. Edhi Community Centres In its next phase of development, Highway Centres, which are mainly located in rural areas, shall be converted into community centres to create awareness regarding literacy, health, sanitation, safe drinking-water and immunisation. The programme will also support the community for solving their problems on self-help basis. Small loans will be granted for poultry farming and cattle breeding through Edhi Community Centres. Establishment of Specialised Centres for Treatment For
treatment of renal problems and poor cancer patients, the Foundation hopes to build specialised hospitals and surgical units in Pakistan.
Ambulance Aircraft
Five additional ambulance aircrafts will be acquired within the next three years. This will include 2 helicopters and 3 Fixed Wing aircrafts.
Babies left over in garbage dumps outside Karachi are airlifted to the central nursery located in Karachi where medical and nursing care is provided before adoption. All documentation's of this service are kept confidential in order to save the child from facing social problems afterwards
Destitute Homes
Edhi Home also called as" Apna Ghar " ( our home), is a home for the mentally ill destitute, for orphans and runaways. There are 13 such homes in the country out of which seven are in Karachi . About six thousand persons live in Edhi Homes. A destitute or homeless becomes a member of Edhi's family once he enters its premises. All boarding, lodging, clothing, and logistic arrangements are entirely free.If a person dies within these homes, the burial arrangements are made by the Foundation according to the religious rites of the deceased (Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian, or any other religion). In Edhi Homes, there is a team of specialists to deal with particular problems of the residents. It is supported by a small staff. The residents are encouraged and trained to look after their personal needs themselves. This inculcates in them the spirit of selfhelp, and keeps them engaged in beneficial activities. In-charge of one of the Edhi Homes for the orphans and runaways, says" Encouraging children to do their own work gives them self-respect and makes them feel that the benefits they get in return are not charity but reward for their efforts".
Welfare Centers
The Welfare Centres of the Foundation are located in all the big cities and towns of Pakistan . The prime function of these centres is to extend all services of the Foundation to the needy persons at their door-steps. Plans are under way to extend their numbers. Once these centres come into operation, ninety percent of Pakistan 's population is expected to be covered by the Foundation's activities. These welfare centres act as " Service Counters " for the need of the suffering masses. They are constantly engaged in multifarious activities directly or indirectly benefiting the local community
. Also they provide ambulance service at nominal charges, facility for vaccinating new-born babies and children against diseases, and other welfare services. The dispensary and mobile dispensary at each centre cater for medical assistance to approximately two hundred and fifty patients daily. On completion of the proposed project each Centre will have three ambulances, a four-bedded emergency unit, a permanent dispensary and a mobile dispensary for field operations. All Centres will be linked with wireless sets. Each centre is estimated to cost Rs. One million giving a total project cost of Rs. Five hundred million. Work has started on this project and sixty permanent and one hundred and twenty five temporary centres have already started functioning. Work is also underway to include the establishment of additional Edhi Homes for the destitute, dispensaries, centres for rehabilitation of heroin addicts, ambulance centres and rural welfare centres. Acquisition of additional ambulance aircraft's is also in hand to provide a speedy service between these centres.
WARE HOUSES
Voluntary contributions in kind, which include clothing, edibles, medicines, dry rations are received throughout Edhi Centre's network. Through voluntary contributions from Pakistan and abroad, Warehouses were established in big cities like Karachi , Islamabad , and Multan . Five of these Warehouses are kept ready round the clock with provision of tents, dry rations, bedding, blankets, baby milk powder, utensils, etc., to move into action immediately in times of emergencies. These Warehouses deliver items to refugee camps, at the site of any natural calamity, riots, fires and accidents, etc. Through these Warehouses regular supplies have been provided to refugees from Kashmir, Afghanistan, Bosnia and countries like Somalia, Kuwait, Bangladesh and flood affected areas in Pakistan etc.
Air-dropping of food supplies for stranded people on ships, and in areas affected by wars and calamities.
Having developed the nation-wide network of ground ambulances supported by Air ambulance, Edhi Foundation has set up a separate establishment to extend its services in coastal areas as well. Edhi Marine service caters for the following: Recovering dead bodies in cases of drowning through properly framed divers. Air-dropping of food to the entrapped ships at Arabian Coast . Establishment of watch towers with provision of life jackets and inflatable Rescue services in rivers, lakes and dams of the country.
Research Hostel. Plans are under way to extend this facility with an additional one hundred and fifty beds at Karachi . Poor patients who can not bear their travel expenses are provided railway tickets making it easier for them to reach the cancer hostel.
GRAVEYARD SERVICES
Edlhi Foundation has the largest net-work for the burial of unclaimed and burials of dead bodies in Pakistan . Separate grave yards are established in cities like Karachi , Lahore , Rawalpindi and New York . Mr. Edhi, perhaps, holds the world record for giving the last prescribed bath (Ghusal) with his own hands to about 20,000
unclaimed dead bodies and for arranging their burial. Metropolitan Corporations of all big cities in Pakistan like Karachi , Lahore and Rawalpindi have made annual contracts with Edhi Foundation for burial of unidentified dead bodies recovered from drowning, homicides, and accidents. Coffin cloth and coffin boxes are provided free of cost to those families who cannot afford or manage burial rites themselves. Non-Muslims are provided services according to their own religious rites with the assistance of a church or local temple. In addition to the above, large air conditioned cold mortuaries have been established at Karachi to keep unidentified bodies for a couple of days, and perform burial rites if the next of kin is not traceable.Edhi grave yard services also provide facilities for burial and transportation of dead bodies from overseas.
Reach the site of emergency within minutes Launch mass campaign against social evils like Narcotics, Aids, and awareness for Diarrhoea, Immunisation and Family Planning programmes etc. Provide routine emergency coverage to public gatherings and processions. Act as a focal point for civil defence in time of need. Provide guidance to the passers-by in locating their required address. Assist illiterate people for filling in different forms pertaining to Banking and Identity Cards etc. and help them in letter-writing. Organise local volunteers in social welfare activities. Extend other services of Edhi Foundation to door-steps of the needy families.
PRISONERS AID
Following services besides legal aid are provided by Edhi Foundation to prisoners in different jails and remand homes
Food supplies. (Borstal and Central Jails) Medical Facilities. ( Karachi Central Jail) Gifts (on national events) on yearly basis. Distribution of books and stationery. Recreation. (sports, TV, etc.) Provision of items of daily use like wall clocks, articles of clothing and
blankets, etc. Ambulance services. Securities and bonds for release of prisoners involved in minor crimes.
Refugees Assistance
Edhi Foundation has been providing services to the refugees of different countries forced to take shelter in Pakistan . Refugees belonging to the following countries are among the beneficiaries:
Besides running its own fleet of ambulances, Edhi Foundation has been supporting other government institutions and non-governmental organisations in a variety of ways, keeping in view the larger interest of the masses. A list of organisations receiving ambulances as donations from Edhi Foundation is given below:
Ministry of Health, Sindh Ojha TB Sanatorium, Karachi . Civil Hospital, Hyderabad . TB. Centre, Kotri. Liaquat Medical Hospital ,'Jamshoro. Trust for Destitute People, Hyderabad . Memon Hospital , Hyderabad . Government Hospital , Shikarpur
At best, it is to be hoped that there could be co-ordinated efforts between the private and public sector for provision of the needed welfare services through the most economical and efficient use of financial, human and technical resources. Edhi Foundation has been successful in developing a model of welfare services in a large number of areas where the Foundation supplements and supports the government system by mobilizing community resources without burdening the public exchequer.
In actual practice, the organizational set-up of the Foundation has been constantly in the process of shaping itself the requirements of its ever expanding network of Services. Being outside the formal bureaucratic set up, it has the plasmatic flexibility to mould itself in response to the exigencies of the situation. The following are the ingredients of current resources of the Foundation: