|
|
 Children
First, The Society was founded in June 2006, with the aspiration to provide a better
life for children who, by a stroke of misfortune, are unlikely to fulfill their
ambitions and desires.
We are a unique organization, founded by mothers wishing to make a difference to
the lives of children in Pakistan and around the world. Children First, The Society
aims to improve these lives, not just through financial support, but also by visible
commitment to proactively engage with these children and their families.
Children First, The Society actively supports the ICU ward at the National Institute
of Child Health, Karachi, Pakistan. For the past 3years we have been supplying medicines
to this ward, in particular to those used in the treatment of Guillain-Barre-Syndrome
(GBS, pronounced as Gheeyan Bah-ray). GBS is also known as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating
Polyneuropathy and is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves of the brain
and the spinal cord. Apart from this, we treat children for various other diseases
and provide them with the best possible care. The debilitation of this disease usually
begins with the onset of weakness affecting the muscle of the legs, arms, chest,
face and eyes. The debility varies from mild to virtual paralysis. High doses of
Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) are often the most effective treatments available
to shorten the length of GBS. However, the approximate cost of this treatment is
Rs. 120,000 per child and increases according to the weight of the patient making
the treatment expensive and being almost unaffordable to the patients’ family.
 Going forward, Children First, The Society will provide funding to the ICU ward
for the treatment of all diseases pertaining to this unit. This is a major step
for the organization. The ward was established in 1995, with only 3 ventilators,
9 beds and 5 incubators with a staff of 15 including the Doctors. Now this unit
has 13 beds, 9 ventilators, 8 multipara monitors, 2 pulse oximeters, 2 dynamaps,
ECG machines, CO2 monitor Mobile X-Ray machine and with a staff of 9 Doctors and
18 paramedics. Here, children are admitted for critical care management. All cases
of acute severe Asthama, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, GBS, Tetanus, Status Epilepticus,
Steven Johnson Syndrome, Poisoning, Cardiac Failures and patients needing ventilators
and intense monitoring. As mentioned earlier, the cost of these treatments will
be provided by CF.
In the past 3 years, by the Grace of All Mighty Allah and through the support of
our generous contributors, Children First, The Society has saved the lives of 89
children. We have donated a life saving ventilator and 5 multipara monitors. This
success has inspired our determination to exceed our own expectation. CF members
have personally made sure that all medicines are provided to the patients and have
ensured that all services are given to them.
However, without donations we cannot make a difference. Without donations, we will
struggle to lift the sprits of these children whose lives have been affected by
tragedy. Your support can help provide a happy ending. Together we can make a difference.
Nelson Mandela said: “There can be no keener revelation to a society’s soul than
the way in which it treats its children”. Let us achieve together. Let us make a
difference to the children of this hospital and in Pakistan.
|
|