#CLUB100 || PATIENTS' WELFARE ASSOCIATION || ONE OF THE BIIGGEST NON-GOVERNMENT MEDICAL ORGANIZATION OF PAKISTAN RUN BY STUDENTS OF DOW
Patient's Welfare Association (PWA) is one of the largest blood supply banks in Karachi. PWA provides services to Dr. Ruth Pfau's government hospital all free of cost. They own a blood bank that provides blood to patients in dire need. The main goal of PWA is to eradicate thalassemia from Pakistan, ensure the screening of blood for thalassemia major and minor, and help build a community that looks after each other in times of need. Thalassemia patients need a constant transfusion of blood due to the incapability of their vascular system to produce blood. I joined PWA to offer my volunteer services for this great cause.
Patients' Welfare Association was established as a small student-based organization by three students of Dow Medical College in 1974 with simple services such as free-of-cost drugs for needy patients. The organization keeps expanding in the upcoming years.
As the organization depends on charity donations and zakat funds, PWA arranged different social activities throughout the city. PWA also held many fundraising campaigns such as donation camps and promotions in campuses and hospitals.
The Patients' Welfare Association holds many events; from fundraising activities to seminars concerning local medical issues and road donation camps. A few volunteers were assigned road donation duties, in which they had to collect charity from different shops, malls, and restaurants. This campaign went on for about a week with volunteers being assigned to busy areas and roads of the city. It helped collect a sum total of about 85,000 per.
The charity collected was used to organize many different activities for children which included buying eid gifts and organizing the Pakistan day celebrations. Pakistan day celebration was held in their ward which was decorated with green and white decorations by the volunteers. A cake-cutting ceremony was also performed. The children took part in the singing of national songs and speeches.
The eid gifts were bought prior to Ramadan and were distributed among the children. This filled their hearts with love and happiness. Activities like these freshen their minds and make them acknowledge that they're no less than other children.
Another activity arranged by PWA was the children's day. PWA arranged a children's fun day for the children suffering from thalassemia.
The volunteers helped in making creative and fun posters and badges for children.I myself took part in it. We also arranged fun activities and a small food court. We also prepared for the upcoming blood donating camp, which aimed to spread awareness among people about donating blood and encouraging them to donate as much as they can to help the people in need.
The blood bank of PWA had a drastic decline in blood donations due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. To meet the demands of constant blood supply, a blood donation camp was arranged in our college. Being a volunteer of this purposeful association, I gave my full services during these needy days. The camp was arranged for two days. We made the camp arrangements prior to the arrival of donors. The medical staff was set up to check the donor's blood for any transmittable disease. The staff and students of the college donated blood and most of our stock was refreshed.
As I see the smiles of the thalassemia children and people's efforts towards this cause, I aim to see the PWA organization flourish and expanded. I will keep on providing my services for this great cause.
Regards,
@abdu.navi03