Latest news with #HelpingHandFoundation
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- 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.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
50% NCD patients skip care over travel cost; survey shows risk rising in Rajendranagar; HHF sets up free clinics
HYDERABAD: According to a survey by the city-based healthcare organisation Helping Hand Foundation (HHF) in Rajendranagar, nearly 50% of the 12,000 patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) found it difficult to visit health centres due to travel costs and distance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This led to irregular treatment, increasing risk of serious health complications. The health organisation has conducted a survey of around 200 households over the past three years. With NCDs such as diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid cases growing rapidly in Hyderabad and neaby areas, the HHF, which collaborates with govt hospitals in the city, has set up three special clinics called Basti BP & Sugar Clinics in remote areas of Rajendranagar - MM Pahadi, Suleman Nagar and Chintalmet. These NCD sub-centres are designed to provide free, accessible care to low-income communities and serve a population of 65,000-70,000 people in Rajendranagar. "A community-centric approach is the best way to control chronic diseases in underserved communities," said Mujtaba Hasan Askari of HHF.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
With just one govt school for 1.5 lakh population in Bandlaguda, NGO opens free primary school
In the densely populated 16-square kilometre stretch of Bandlaguda, home to nearly 1.5 lakh people, there is only one government school. To tackle this gap, SEED USA and Hyderabad-based NGO Helping Hand Foundation (HHF) have opened a primary school to provide free, quality education to children from economically vulnerable families. Located in Mohammed Nagar, one of several urban settlements in Bandlaguda, including Ismail Nagar, Millat Nagar, Hussain Nagar, Ghouse Nagar and Mustafa Hills, the new SEED-HHF school offers classes from nursery to Class 5. With two sections for LKG and one for each grade, the school has enrolled 300 students, all of whom will receive free education and books. A pre-establishment survey by HHF revealed that despite the presence of 35 to 40 private schools, the prohibitive costs — around ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 per month — kept education out of reach for many. The survey found that 68% of households live in low-cost rented accommodations, with rents below ₹5,000, while 65% of residents are migrants from States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Most adults work in the informal sector as gig workers, rickshaw drivers, construction labourers or domestic helpers. 'About 80% of families said even minimal school fees were unaffordable. By opening this school, we are not just offering education, we are offering dignity, opportunity, and long-term empowerment. The school is situated in one of the most neglected pockets of Bandlaguda. Our mission is to serve those who are usually invisible to the system,' said Mujtaba Hasan Askari, founder of HHF.
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- The Citizen
Local organisation demands action against GBV
Helping Hand Foundation mobilised its members to address the rise in gender-based violence and demanded that Mamelodi East police prioritise GBV cases on Thursday. Together with the community of Mamelodi, they marched from Balebogeng Primary School to hand over a memorandum of grievances at the Mamelodi East police station. The memorandum was received by Colonel Moses Mokwana of the Visible Policing unit. Ntombifuthi Gwala from the foundation said it demands change and increased support from the police regarding GBV. Gwala said the police must prioritise GBV cases and immediately attend to calls from the community regarding GBV. 'There are a lot of cases reported in Mamelodi about issues related to GBV, and therefore we demand more support for GBV survivors and families who have lost their loved ones due to GBV,' said Gwala. She said the community had been complaining about the police officers who are not taking their job seriously, especially when it comes to GBV cases. She said the march comes after numerous complaints regarding GBV in the community and victims being afraid to come out in the open about their plight. The foundation pleaded with the community and victims of GBV to break the silence and start reporting these cases. She said it is there to help victims come forward with their complaints, and police must take action by protecting the victims. Among the issues they raised was the need for police to work with the community to implement community-based programmes to prevent GBV, promote awareness and challenge harmful gender stereotypes. In his response, Mokwana said GBV is taken seriously at the Mamelodi East police station. Mokwana said, 'We are working closely with the court of law by making sure that the perpetrators of GBV are served with protection orders as soon as possible. 'We always make sure that suspects known to the victims get arrested and make sure they are denied bail,' said Mokwana. 'Gender-based violence and contact crimes are a very big problem in Mamelodi East, hence we have gender-based violence gates which can be used by victims,' he said. He said the police were committed and would attend to the memorandum. The police advised the community to work closely with the social crime prevention officers to raise more awareness. Mokwana added that the station has a victim empowerment office that operates 24 hours. Gwala added that the foundation will be working together with the South African Police Service to end GBV and would therefore be taking part in programmes arranged by the police in the fight against GBV. She said Helping Hand Foundation is a student-led organisation that fights inequality and works with those going through poverty. The foundation has given the police station seven days to respond to its demands. ALSO READ: Ga-Rankuwa residents march to demand jobs Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
72% deliveries registered at urban PHCs took place in govt hosps: Survey
Hyderabad: Around 72% of deliveries registered at urban primary health centres (PHCs) between Aug and Dec 2024 took place in govt hospitals, revealed a survey by the city-based healthcare NGO, Helping Hand Foundation (HHF). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The survey covered 3,075 pre-natal cases across 12 PHCs in over 90 urban settlements, mostly in the city's south and west areas, which are also home to migrant labourers and low-income communities. As part of its maternal health initiative , HHF assigned one trained maternal health counsellor for every 250 pregnant women. The counsellors provided trimester-wise guidance on follow-ups, tests, scans, nutrition, and hygiene, ensuring consistent engagement throughout the pregnancy. "The most important aspect of our intervention was convincing women to opt for deliveries in govt hospitals. Our trained volunteers stationed in maternity hospitals provided crucial support and guidance throughout the pregnancy," said HHF founder trustee Mujtaba Hasan Askari, adding that of the 432 deliveries recorded during this period, 72% took place in govt hospitals — completely free of charge. "This resulted in an estimated saving of Rs 1 crore in out-of-pocket expenses for these families," he said. Crucially, 68% of deliveries were normal, demonstrating the success of early risk identification and ongoing care. While 45% of the women had anaemia early in pregnancy, most recovered with dietary and medical help. Around 21% had gestational diabetes and 15% developed pregnancy-related anaemia. The outcomes were encouraging: 99% of births were live births (428), with only three intrauterine deaths. No neonatal complications were reported, and the sex ratio was 54% male and 46% female. "These indicators strongly suggest the effectiveness of community-based antenatal care and timely referrals," said Dr Amina Afshan, chief medical officer at HHF's health centre in Pahadi Shareef.
