One day, the president, general secretary and few other members of the Social Welfare Development Organization of Sher Khan Leghari visited Safwco. They were very much worried and informed the staff of social organization and health sectors that within ten days six children had died due to diarrhea in the village and many more children were getting ill. Their parents were poor and could not afford the treatment. The children were in a serous condition. Immediately, it was decided to organize a tnedical camp, where apart from treatment, health education might be imparted to control the situation. Program officer, Health and President of the community organization'contacted medical superintendent of tal uk a hospital Shahdadpur, who deputed a child specialist Dr. Mohammad Ali Saheto for this task. He also consented to be in the camp to monitor himself the situation.

After two days, Saf_vco 's health teams and the child specialist reached the village and examined 128 children. They were given oral dehydration therapy and their parents were given awareness on child health. After afew days the president and general secretary village returned to Safivco. They were very happy and informed that the children were improving. The villagers were very impressed on the quick response of Safivco and support of the government hospital in the emergency. This exemplary story shows the power of partnership betYVeen the community, the government and the NGO.

No More Abortions No More Pain

"After giving birth to my third child, I underwent three more miscarriages. When Safwco established MCH center in my village, Mohammad Hashim Khaskheli, I consulted immediately with its LHV and narrated my painful story to her. Before that I consulted every dai, hakeem. or local doctor (quack) but my pregnancy could not survive. The LHV very carefully and thoroughly checked me. I told her that during pregnancy period I get fits, which she diagnosed hypertension. She gave me treatment and advised to admit in Taluka hospital Shahdadpur. The CHW of my village got me admitted in hospital at the delivery time. I was nicely treated and gave birth to a healthy and cute baby son. I think it as the blessing of MCH center of my village. If I had this opportunity before, I would have not experienced the pain of three miscarriages. Now I advise my village women to visit the MCH center for any health problem minor or major particularly of pregnancy".

This story tells more stories about the benefits of MCH to the village women, who now get health service immediately and at their door step and get assistance even in urban hospital, where they get admitted when they are severely ill. These women otherwise would have continued suffering and in several cases might have expired, if this center was not established. Safwco assessing these benefits for the village women is establishing more such centers in the villages deprived of the maternal health service. In the year 2000, it has set up 4 centers, serving 4 villages, and various other surrounding villages

Health Monitor at home

"MCH center and Safwco health team plays an important role in educating children about hygienic practices". Ali Nawaz Dahiri of Karamullah Dahiri village shares his experience that one day he started eating in the afternoon after doing a hard labour in his cotton field. His younger daughter Heer asked him to wash his hands before eating. "It was really strange to get such advise from my kid for the first time .Though we were given the same lesson by molvi of our area as washing hands before meals is the sunnah (practice) of our holy prophet (pbuh); but we did not take the advice seriously. That today, I really felt ashamed when my own kid was teaching me the importance of cleanliness. I asked who taught her to wash hands before meals. She told Safwco health team taught us this in our school. It also told us many other good suggestions on health. They also informed that If we observe their advice no one would get ill. Following her advice I washed my hands and promised her, that I won't take meals before I wash my hands properly. Heer was very happy on her success. She does not let anybody in the house to take meals before washing hands".

Safwco's health education reaches to all fami­lies, whose kids study in the school. Its school health program is a big success in the r'ural communities, where Safwco works.

Linking Up Rural Paramedics with Urban Health Professionals

The most fruitful and enduring linkage Safwco has created is between the Mother & Child Healthcare Centers and Taluka Civil Hospital Shahdadpur, an 82-bed full­ fledged, well equipped, government hospital with 24-hour emergence obstetric care (EmOC) facility. School of Midwifery, affiliated with the Hospital and located within the hospital premises, provides one-year training course in midwifery and trains women as midwives. What distinguishes Civil Hospital Shahdadpur is its profession­al staff--headed by a dedicated, husband-and wife team. Dr. Abdul Majeed Chutto, Medical Superintendent, and Dr. Mariam Majeed, Head Gynecology Department-­fully understand the crucial role of a government health facility, located in an urban center, surrounded by rural settlements that are totally deprived of basic health facilities.

"The number of referred patients has significantly increased since the establishment of Mother & Child Healthcare Centres working as referral centers in the villages. Previously there were many cases of ecclesia coming from rural areas. This condi­tion results from untreated hypertension due to lack antenatal care. Proper antena­tal care has reduced the number of such cases. Besides, traditional birth attendants make quick and timely referral of complicated cases to us. As we have a team of 8 lady doctors and full EmOC facilities, we are able to handle the cases," says Dr. Mariam Majeed, Head of the Department.