HomeNet Pakistan is a network of organizations with the objective of raising awareness regarding the economic, social, domestic and working conditions of home-based women workers. This group comprises 70% of the informal workforce contributing towards the country’s economic activities. HomeNet Pakistan has been working for the support and recognition of these women workers since 2005, with the support of ‘UN Women’.
At the medical camp, free tests of blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, Body Mass Index (BMI), Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (DPNP), and eye check-up were conducted. Free medicines were provided to the poor and needy patients. A large number of women arrived at the camp to avail the service.
Programme Manager HomeNet Naheed Syed informed, “There were around 120 patients from Musharraf Colony and surrounding areas who had come to the medical camp to receive medical assistance and treatments by the team of specialist doctors.”
Dr Sidra from Jinnah Hospital said that malnutrition, anemia, joint pain, and deficiency of Calcium and Vitamin D were abundantly reported in female patients. “Women are badly suffering due to extreme financial crises; there is a need to raise awareness about healthy life-style among these people,” she suggested.
Highlighting the hurdles of their painful life, home-based women workers stated that millions of people were living in Baldia town, yet there was no government hospital like Jinnah and Civil within the entire territory. The residents complained about the prevalence of severe health issues, and shortage of facilities like electricity, water and gas. No government official or concerned authority has contacted us over these issues; we are neither being provided proper employment opportunities nor rescue packages, they lamented.
The women workers were, however, delighted and grateful to HomeNet for showing interest in their community and sincerely striving for its prosperity. The arrangement of medical camps in such deprived localities surely offer a ray of hope, they remarked. -PR