"We must come together as a global community in this time of a crisis to bring aid to those who are in dire need of basic necessities. For me, the most important notion of the ethic of service is to humanity at large." Dr. Alambardar Ali Khuwaja.
Initiative to help during COVID crisis
Dr. Alambardar Ali Khuwaja is the President of the Khuwaja Welfare Association (KWA), a non-profit organization, and together with his family, they have made significant efforts to provide resources for the ultra-poor residing in rural areas of Pakistan. KWA beneficiaries reside in rural areas within Jungshahi, Thatta District, and Sindh Province in Pakistan. As the country remains under lockdown to battle the COVID-19 outbreak, local non-profit organizations like KWA are playing an integral role in stemming the economic burden on low-income families by providing them food and the means to obtain medical assistance.
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The daunting economic slowdown, a direct result of the global COVID-19 outbreak, has impacted individuals who live below the poverty line especially, those who represent nearly 25% of the country's population. Laborers and daily-wage workers have been adversely affected by this pandemic which has impeded their ability to maintain their livelihood. Their immediate need for daily survival is predominantly food, which KWA is addressing.
Due to the numerous donors and supporters from the United States, KWA exceeded its goal of providing food in just its first day of this program. In the last eight weeks, they have raised enough funds to distribute food rations for up to 14 days at a time to over 3,000 households.
Dr. Khuwaja completed his medical education at Liaquat Medical College, and he has received his diploma in Dermatology from the University of Vienna and a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Texas in Houston. He always dreamed of utilizing his knowledge and skills to improve the quality of life of others. In particular, he wanted to start with providing access to healthcare and education to those residing in the town of Jungshahi, Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan. He is inspired in this endeavor by a quote attributed to Hazrat Ali: “Do not let your difficulties fill you with anxiety, after all, it is only in the darkest nights that stars shine more brightly.”
Why Jungshahi?
More than 200 years ago, the forefathers of Dr. Khuwaja migrated from the Middle East to South Asia and settled in, wh
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at was then, India. The family business was established in Jungshahi, Thatta, which is 63 miles from Karachi. As time passed, many of the family members moved to Karachi due to the lack of quality education in Jungshahi. The family members are now established as seasoned businessmen, professional writers, and doctors in Karachi, the Middle East, and in the United States. The family has always had a historical presence in Jungshahi, and today, one entire household still resides there.
Khuwaja Welfare Association (KWA)
In 2014, KWA began initiatives of health awareness and hygiene in the schools within the Thatta District. Participants were given presentations on preventive medicine and given health and hygiene kits. The project was led by volunteer nurses from the Aga Khan University Nursing School and Darul-Sukoon. The organization also distributed school bags, shoes, clothes, and food in different villages. In addition, KWA also helped fund tuition for students in different villages of Sindh and partnered with other organizations to arrange medical camps in Jungshahi and surrounding villages.
Currently, the organization is working with volunteers to install water pumps in different villages of Jungshahi, build brick homes for families in need, construct proper toilets for villagers, and implement solar panel technology for electricity. KWA also plans to install Reverse Osmosis plants between three to four villages to provide clean and safe drinking water.
In February 2020, KWA inaugurated its welfare clinic in Jungshahi. The clinic's initial focus is to address issues of maternal and child health. It plans also to establish a referral program with different medical specialists to aid the needs of those who cannot afford nor have access to healthcare.
In the future, KWA intends to expand its work to other areas of Sindh by collaborating with different local partners.
