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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Hyderabad NGO adopts Tamil Nadu's doorstep NCD model in slums
Hyderabad-based Helping Hand Foundation (HHF) has launched a community health outreach programme modelled on Tamil Nadu's Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. The initiative aims to bring doorstep Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) screening, consultation and medicine delivery, to vulnerable residents of Rajendranagar mandal. The programme has begun operations through three newly-established NCD sub-centres in Mir Mahamod Pahadi Colony, Suleman Nagar, and Chintalmet, all under the jurisdiction of Rajendranagar Primary Health Centre (PHC). These areas, home to nearly 65,000 to 70,000 people from low-income households, have long struggled with poor access to healthcare. Each sub-centre is staffed with a doctor, a nurse, and three to four trained Community Health Workers (CHWs), with each CHW responsible for covering 200 to 250 households. Their duties include door-to-door screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI) to identify existing and at-risk NCD cases. The model also integrates a follow-up mechanism, ensuring patients adhere to treatment regimens, adopt lifestyle modifications, and are referred to government hospitals in case of complications. An analysis by HHF of over 12,000 patient records from urban settlements revealed that 45% of patients find travelling to public health centres both expensive and inconvenient. As a result, about 50% were found to be irregular with treatment, increasing their risk of complications. 'Years of deprivation and weak access to healthcare have led to poor health-seeking behaviour among these communities,' said Mujtaba Hasan Askari of HHF. Preliminary findings from a door-to-door survey of 500 residents, 70% women and 30% men have highlighted the scale of the problem. Around 41% of those surveyed were found to have NCDs. Within this group, 43% had diabetes, 30% had hypertension, 15% had thyroid disorders, 5% had coronary artery disease, and 2.5% were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Alarmingly, nearly 60% of diabetes and hypertension cases were found to be uncontrolled, said the data shared by HHF. The survey also showed that 38% of the NCD patients were obese, with two-thirds of them suffering from both diabetes and hypertension. Another 32% were overweight, and half of these individuals were diagnosed with NCDs. Beyond diabetes and hypertension, patients will be periodically screened for a range of other health issues including eye disorders, oral health, kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dementia, and cancers of the breast, cervix, and oral cavity, all at no cost. Provision of spectacles and cataract surgeries will also be free, added Mr. Askari.
New Indian Express
03-08-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
How a fundraising e-mail shaped Telangana's biggest helping hands
HYDERABAD: In 2007, a simple act of compassion set the stage for one of Hyderabad and state's most impactful health-focused non-profit organisations. Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), which now supports over 15 lakh people annually, wasn't born of a plan — it emerged from a moment of urgency. A year earlier, Mujtaba Hasan Askari, then a senior IT professional at Infosys and volunteer with its CSR initiative 'Mamta', had come across a desperate case: a plumber's son needed urgent brain surgery that cost `1.5 lakh. Askari emailed his office network asking for help. The response was overwhelming. Nearly `7 lakh poured in. 'That moment gave me hope,' he tells TNIE. 'It showed me how much people care, and what we can achieve together.' Moved by the generosity and the scale of need it revealed, Askari began volunteering over weekends from his brother's ad agency office. Word spread. People from across Hyderabad and nearby districts came seeking help. Within months, queues formed. By 2007, HHF was formally registered as a charitable trust. Initially, HHF raised funds to cover medical costs for underprivileged patients. But as demand exploded, it became clear the model wouldn't last. 'It wasn't sustainable,' Askari says. 'We needed a better way.' The shift came with a simple insight: instead of paying private hospital bills, HHF would help patients access what was already available to them in government hospitals. The foundation began setting up 'health desks' within public hospitals. Staffed by trained volunteers, these desks helped patients navigate the often-overwhelming system: explaining procedures, arranging admissions, securing beds or even locating a stretcher. 'Government hospitals are busy and understaffed. For a poor patient walking in, it can feel like nobody cares. Our team becomes the face of the hospital for them,' he says. Today, HHF runs help desks in over a dozen public hospitals in Hyderabad, with plans to expand to Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda. A leap of faith In 2014, after years of juggling his corporate career and social work, Askari quit Infosys to devote himself fully to HHF. 'It wasn't easy, but I knew where I wanted to be,' he remarks. 'This work gave my life a deeper meaning.' The foundation's mission sharpened: make healthcare accessible and affordable for the most vulnerable. HHF identified underserved urban areas, especially migrant worker-dominated slums, and began setting up primary clinics. Today, 17 such centres offer free consultations, diagnostics and medicines.
Express Tribune
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'No political space in sight for PTI'
Political space for opposition parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), may have further shrunk after the establishment bolstered its ties with the West, as analysts suggest that the beleaguered party's chances of making a political comeback during the current regime were virtually nonexistent. However, they caution that the budding relationship with the Trump administration could be a volatile, double-edged sword for the powers that be. Former Punjab caretaker chief minister and senior political analyst Hasan Askari said that PTI has no political future under the current dispensation, which he described as being firmly controlled by a powerful establishment. According to him, the establishment has only grown stronger in the wake of two mini-wars in the region. 'This setup will not cede any space to PTI, as it would mark the beginning of their own undoing. They cannot afford for PTI to do politicking on the streets. As long as they have power, they will keep Imran behind bars,' Askari said. He further noted that no government since Benazir Bhutto's first stint in power had ceded this much ground to the military as the current one has. Askari said that the current setup, which derives its strength "from the very top," could last for a considerable period. However, when it falls, 'it will go down like a house of cards'. He added that PTI will likely outlive this regime and will 'rise from the ruins' the moment it is granted political space. Regarding Pakistan's relations with the US, he said that Islamabad's 'relations with America will last for as long as their interests and ours are aligned'. Pakistan may benefit in the short term, he added, but this relationship is contextual. 'Tomorrow, when our utility diminishes, so will the warmth in the relationship.' Another political analyst, Rasool Bakhsh Rais, said that while PTI may currently be in a bind, it was rapidly regaining ground. 'PML-N and PPP are steadily losing what little public legitimacy they had,' he said. Rais pointed to the Supreme Court's recent decision to hand over PTI's reserved seats to PML-N and PPP, saying it 'has exposed the underbelly of this hybrid-plus regime'. He said that the West has a long history of supporting dictatorships and autocratic regimes when it suits its interests. 'Even in our case, American support for the establishment is only delegitimising the political government. The system might have gained strength, but constitutionally it has become frail.' He added that PTI founder Imran Khan would not buckle under pressure and would stand his ground. 'Imran Khan is a beacon of hope for Pakistan's political system. His stand is in the interest of the country,' Rais said. He noted that while the current dispensation may ignore public perception for now, 'soon they will understand what the opinion of a common man is worth'. Another analyst, Salman Abid, agreed that cordial ties with the US come at a price. He described the US-Pakistan relationship as purely transactional. 'America has significant strategic interests in this region, and it sees Pakistan as crucial to achieving those goals,' he said, adding that this friendship would not come as a 'free lunch". Abid expressed concern that Pakistan's growing closeness with the US could distance it from its long-time ally, China. 'This system has no political weight, and it will continue to function only so long as it has wind in its sails,' he said. He warned that such power structures in Pakistan have a long history of failing spectacularly.
Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pandemonium in Sindh PA as PPP, MQM MPAs trade allegations
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly descended into chaos on Monday after a verbal clash broke out between members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), following allegations of nepotism levelled by MQM-P MPA Adil Askari against Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Tensions flared when Askari, addressing the House, accused the Chief Minister of breaching good governance principles by appointing his brother-in-law as the Chief Secretary of Sindh. 'Murad Ali Shah is the Chief Minister of the province, and his brother-in-law is appointed as the Chief Secretary — this is clearly nepotism,' said Askari, triggering uproar from PPP benches. PPP's senior member Mukesh Kumar Chawla objected strongly to the statement, urging the acting speaker to expunge the Chief Minister's name from the proceedings. 'Such statements are not only provocative but unnecessary,' he asserted. As tempers rose, members of both parties stood up from their seats, exchanging sharp words and accusations, forcing the acting speaker to intervene. 'Do not address each other directly. Respect the sanctity of the House,' he warned, attempting to calm the heated atmosphere. The situation further deteriorated when another MQM member responded to PPP's Farooq Awan, referencing his past in the Sindh Police and questioning his silence during the early days of MQM's founder. 'If the MQM founder was a devil, as you claim, you should have shown courage back then instead of condemning him now when his politics has ended,' he remarked, adding fuel to an already combustible session. The confrontation overshadowed what was meant to be the start of a multi-day general debate on the provincial budget for fiscal year 2025–26. Earlier in the day, members from both treasury and opposition benches engaged in budget discussions, though political rivalries and deep-rooted grievances quickly dominated the session. Jamal Ahmed Khan of MQM highlighted critical civic issues in North Nazimabad, noting severe water shortages and dysfunctional waste management. He criticized the Karachi Mayor's claims about street cleaning. He also lamented that development schemes proposed by MQM had been discarded entirely from the budget. On the government's side, PPP's Shazia Kareem criticised the federal government for neglecting Sindh in the national budget, citing the exclusion of significant infrastructure projects like the Karachi and Hyderabad Motorways and the K-IV water supply scheme. 'Has Sindh become a slave of the federation,' she asked, further alleging that PWD schemes had been arbitrarily placed under federal control. Ejaz Shah Bukhari, another PPP lawmaker, invoked Karachi's past bloodshed, arguing that the PPP's dedication to public service had earned it a place in the people's hearts. He criticised the continuation of long power outages in Sindh and demanded the elevation of Tando Muhammad Khan Hospital to a district-level facility, as well as, the provision of a fire brigade to the local municipal committee. MQM's Abdullah Sheikh urged lawmakers not to incite ethnic tensions, referencing extortion-related violence in Surjani Town and warning against demonizing the Muhajir community. 'We have seen everything in Karachi,' he said, calling for calm and fair representation. PPP MPA Maliha Manzoor defended the budget, calling it a reflection of the party leadership's people-centric vision. She praised initiatives like the Sindh People's Housing Scheme, women's property rights for flood victims, and new public transport measures such as pink buses, electric scooters, and EV taxis. 'We are proud of the Sindh government,' she stated. On the opposition benches, MQM's Farah Sohail condemned the budget as 'anti-people,' arguing that even after 17 years in power, the PPP had failed to deliver. 'They boast about achievements in healthcare, but one of their own lawmakers took Rs 70 million from the government to seek treatment abroad,' she alleged. Ejaz-ul-Haq from MQM questioned the credibility of the PPP's development claims, saying, 'It feels like we're living in Japan — why don't we see any of this progress in Karachi?' He said there was nothing allocated for Orangi Town and repeated his long-standing demand for establishing a trauma centre at Qatar Hospital Orangi. PPP MPA Nuzhat Pathan said the federal government had completely sidelined Sindh, but despite that, a 'strong and balanced' provincial budget had been delivered — crediting the PPP leadership. She highlighted dysfunctional water services in Hyderabad and criticized WASA's poor performance. In a pointed remark, she claimed MQM had self-destructed. 'We are not eliminating them; they have already eliminated themselves,' she said. Another PPP lawmaker, Farzana Baloch, emphasised that the party's vote bank was growing steadily, which she saw as a sign of public confidence. She slammed K-Electric's over-billing practices, pointing out widespread illegal electricity connections in Karachi. 'People who pay are punished, those who don't are untouched. K-Electric has made life miserable. Whether acknowledged or not, PPP continues to serve.' From the PTI benches, Muhammad Owais criticised the arrest of his party's MPAs and workers during a recent youth rally, calling it political victimization. He also decried the exclusion of all opposition proposals from the budget and held the Sindh government responsible for K-Electric's ongoing failures. Despite repeated attempts by Acting Speaker Anthony Naveed to restore decorum, the session remained turbulent, reflecting the widening political chasm in the province. The assembly was ultimately adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, leaving behind a day marked more by confrontation than consensus. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Askari set for polymetallic field program alongside Namibian tin mine
Askari Metals is set to launch a phase one exploration campaign at the company's prospective EPL 7626 area, one of three exploration licences within the company's Namibian polymetallic Uis project. The licence is contiguous with and about 4 kilometres northeast along strike from Andrada Mining's operating Uis tin mine, which hosts a JORC-compliant estimated mineral resource of 77.51 million tonnes averaging 0.79 per cent lithium oxide, 0.15 per cent tin and 82 parts per million tantalum. Askari's planned field work includes mapping, rock chip sampling and tenement-wide soil geochemical sampling. The proposed work will be undertaken by Askari's African exploration crew under the guidance of the company's chief exploration and project manager, Clifford Fitzhenry. Fitzhenry, a geologist with 21 years' experience, joined Askari two years ago in a then-new role of chief exploration and project manager in Africa. His appointment was a key part of Askari's exploration strategy to accelerate its drilling and development program at its flagship Uis lithium project. Askari says soil sampling is the company's preferred means of conducting low-cost, effective exploration for buried lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites in the EPL 7626 licence area. An LCT pegmatite target is a specific type of granitic pegmatites, which have geological and geochemical characteristics that help exploration companies identify lithium-caesium-tantalum-style pegmatites. The pegmatites may also include tin, niobium and rubidium. Following the soil geochemistry, the company can follow up and refine its priority targets with trench sampling. A previous in-house remote sensing study across EPL 7626 identified zones with spectral tin-tantalite signatures characteristic of mica schists, which were also mapped on another of Askari's nearby licence area, EPL 7345. The company believes mica schists in this second licence area continue northeast beneath Andrada's Uis tin mine and into the EPL 7626 area, most likely beneath cover. Askari based the remote sensing study on Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite imagery, which can differentiate rock types, map regolith units, and identify surface mineralogy. The company is now setting up for a licence-wide soil sampling program on an initial 200 metre by 200m sampling grid to pick up any geochemical anomalies associated with buried pegmatites. The program will comprise about 54 square kilometres and will collect about 1407 samples. The company will determine any next work from the results of the first phase soil geochemical program on EPL 7626 and will design a follow-up infill sampling program to further test any anomalies encountered. Askari also expects to receive assay results from its first phase trenching program at EPL7345 over the next few months. This means that further work on the greater Uis project will comprise a second phase of infill soil geochemical sampling, followed by first phase trenching program at EPL 7626, and then a first phase trenching program on a third licence area. In other work, Askari is progressing its Ethiopian gold strategy and its Tanzanian uranium strategy and is currently reviewing some prospective projects for potential acquisition. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
