Global Grant an amazing opportunity paradoxically an underused tool of The Rotary Foundation in Pakistan

By: Salman Mubarak

Rotary International has been around for 114 years and it’s impact on human development from diseases prevention, peace scholars, water projects to Maternal and Child Health has been significant.

Out of the 19,000 Global Grant projects approved and funded in 2017-18 by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International only two were in Pakistan.  

Global Grant Project “LEND A HAND” (GG1750923)

Yet another feather in the cap of Rotary Club of Multan Cant being the Host Club with Rotary Club of San Bernardino Sunset being the International Clu

Multan has a population of more than 3 million with only three large hospitals with a joint bed capacity of 2700 being run by the government and these facilities are experiencing extreme shortages of medical supplies and electric breakdowns are common.

Private hospitals are very expensive and infinitely out of the reach of the common man. In the absence of a good and well equipped facilities where nursing care and sterilization standards are excellent and available at a cheaper rate, quack clinics are on the rise where surgical complications are very common. A very strong nexuses of quacks is operating which attracts and allures the patients and their relatives by offering cheaper rates and innocent people fall prey to this trap and allow quacks to play havoc with their lives. To render this state of affairs a more tragic look the Govt. facility is overloaded and is under immense pressure and most of the time pre-op and post-op medicines are not available let alone the waiting time. Government is virtually helpless to find a solution because of high population growth rate. The situation has worsened over the years because of sheer neglect on part of the government. The not for profit sector is the only hope and help available to the less fortunate of society.

Mian Fazal Rehman Hospital was established in 1985 as a general hospital by Fazal Rehman Foundation (established in 1965). MFR Hospital is located in poor locality near a slum area in the city of Multan in the southern part of Punjab province and serves the population of adjacent villages and poor neighborhoods of the city. Most of the poor population has no access to clean drinking water and renal stones are common. The socio economic condition is so bad that sometimes people have to sell their cattle or even their house to fund their surgeries or even minor procedures. This is a highly underdeveloped and thickly populated area which lacks access to quality medical care. MFR Hospital offers services in the fields of OBYGN, General Medicine, Dentistry, Ophthalmology and General Surgery. Department of Ophthalmology was established in 2002 and ever since around 15000 cataract surgeries have been done and more than 7000 minor procedures were also performed. The dental section was established in 2008 primarily to address the need of providing affordable dental care solutions and to provide sterilized risk free oral health care. The present condition at low quality dental clinics where proper sterilization facilities are totally absent is making the things worse and spread of hepatitis through the oral route is increasing at a break neck pace and the situation is alarming.

To save a life is to save the humanity.

Scope of Grant

MFR Hospital is very effectively playing a strong and positive role by helping the less fortunate of society. Around 50,000 patients visit the outpatient departments every year. 3,000 dental procedures and more than 50,000 lab investigation are performed. More than 1000 cataract surgeries are performed and general surgeries are also performed free. MFR Hospital addresses the needs of patients by regularly conducting free screening camps for Hepatitis, prediabetic conditions, diabetic and has a regular thyroid clinic along with diabetic clinic.

The hospital was facing a crises like situation because of chronic and frequent power breakdowns because of electricity shortage in the country. Smooth working of the hospital can only be assured by constant power supply. Rotary Club of Multan Cantt. In RID 3272 wanted to lend a hand and intends to install a solar power generation system of 20KVA to ensure consistent power for Lab, General Operation Theater and Eye Operation Theater and essential clinics where electricity is of prime importance for the equipment to be fully operative. Lab and Pharmacy need temperature controlled environment so air conditioning is of high importance. Inverter based technology air conditioned need to be installed as well. RC Multan Cantt also had the desire to augment the lab facility with some new diagnostic equipment and dental department by installing a new x-ray unit.

Back in April 2016 members of Rotary Club of Multan Cantt started this fascinating journey to make this project  a reality.  To take up any Global Grant Project the Host Club needs to find an International Club as an International Partner and secure funds from other clubs and submit a need based survey along with the Global Grant application to TRF – The Rotary Foundation for approval. The project if it falls within the Six Areas of Focus and if things are in place according to the policy and meets the criteria TRF approves the project.

Solar Power Generation Systems, Dental and Diagnostic Equipment with Inverter based Split Air-conditions were funded through this Global Grant project organized by Rotary Club of Multan Cantt as Host Club and Supported by 16 Rotary Clubs around the world including  Rotary Club of San Bernardino,  California, USA as International Partners with support from the Rotary Clubs of  Alton Centenial,  Brampton, Columbia Center Kennewick, Columbia Valley Daybreak, Kennewick, Houston Skyline, Pasco-Kennewick, Richland, Richland Riverside, Stevenage Grange, Tempe South, Tri-Cities Sunrise  (Burbank), Walla Walla and Walla Walla Sunrise. And  7 Rotary International Districts, D1260 Great Britain, D 3272 Pakistan, D 4185 Mexico, D 5080 Eastern Washington and Canada, D 5330 California, D 5495 and D 5510 Arizona. Rotary Club of Multan Cantt is thankful to all the clubs for their support and cooperation in making this project a reality.

With more than 170 clubs in the district and some 3000 plus Rotarians in the district there is a huge opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Both the Not for profit sector and Service Organizations like Rotary International with a large network of more than 1.2 million Rotarians and a powerful arm of Rotary International The Rotary Foundation  with an experience of more than a century of working in most neglected sectors around the world Rotary is poised to be the savior of humanity for the next century but for this to happen Rotarians have to stay focused and stay motivated they way they have shown their strength for Polio Eradication and we are “ “  this Close from eradication Polio from the world.

Author is a Social and Health activist. A Rotarian since 1999 and currently serving as District International Services Chair 2018-21