MMBT: Organizational Profile and Track Record
Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust (MMBT) is an independent certified not for profit organization in internal governance financial management and Programme delivery to provide basic Health and Education with a vision of healthy and prosperous community and society. MMBT started its journey of philanthropy in 1995 by donating a plot of land, approximately 5000 Square meters, for the education of girls. This project for female education set a good example of public private partnership when handed over to the Education Department. The facility was upgraded to Girls High School in 2006. The Trust organizes free medical camps annually in collaboration with Hope International Development Agency, Punjab Medical Association (PMA), Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), Jhelum Royal Lions Club, The Health Department, District Headquarters Hospital Jhelum, Fauji Foundation Hospitals and the Paramedical School Jhelum. Thousands of people get free treatment (including provision of free medicines) from these camps. The trust has been running Outpatients clinic at its hospital complex site for several years now, where thousands of community members, especially mothers and children get free medical consultation and medicines. MMBT is involved and actively participates in several community based philanthropic and social causes.
Background / Problem / Need Statement
Millennium Development Goals MDGs 3, 4, 5 and 6 are pivotal to MMBT programs and Mother & Child Health (MCH) which is one of the most serious, growing, neglected and affecting problems in Pakistan. While certain organizations have worked at their level and initiatives started at either governmental or nongovernmental level, there has not been a concerted, cohesive, ongoing comprehensive effort with all-inclusive stakeholders. This is one of the few issues that affect everyone individually as well as the entire society collectively. The following figures give us an idea of the gravity of the situation.
- 99% of maternal deaths from childbirths occur in the developing world.
- More than 500,000 women die of pregnancy related complications and childbirth every year.
- Infant mortality rate in Pakistan is greater than 1 in 10 compared to 1 in 143 in developed countries.
- Inexperienced, nonprofessional provision of mother and child healthcare services due to lack of management, infrastructure, logistics and financial, geographic and cultural barriers.
- Lack of institutional capacity, poor training, overall shortages and inequity in availability of health professionals, lack of compensation for the professionals, lack of clarity over need, demand and supply.
- Program inadequacy; limited or non-existing guidelines and strategic framework for provision of basic MCH.
- Lack of awareness about the care needed on the part of the main stakeholders i.e. mothers and children.
- Mother and Child health lies in the peripheries of lowest priorities of the policy makers and practitioners and is rundown by serious governance Issues.
In 2015, Millennium Development Goals have been replaced by sustainable development goals. Attached is a paper, which can help us focus in our outreach and funding opportunities.
Purpose / Rationale / Description
While MMBT has been working in the health sector for several years and have provided services to hundreds of patients, Overtime Mother and Child Health (MCH) is taken up as one of our most strategic and priority healthcare issue. The underlying philosophy of our emphasis on educating the mothers in the MCH program is best found in the words of Rudy Manikan, “If you educate a man you educate a person, but if you educate a woman you educate a family.” In a male-dominated society where education opportunities for common people are few, women are further less likely to receive them.
Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust, MCH, Center of Excellence is a Healthcare enabling and service delivery framework designed to help in improving the health of mothers and children by increasing access to high quality healthcare services through capacity building, women empowerment and entrepreneurial framework. The Center will perform four pivotal functions:
- Healthcare Services to Mothers and Children
- Capacity Building programs for the stakeholders
- Research and Development on relevant areas
- Advocacy and Activism related to MCH legislation and Public Policy initiatives
- Healthcare Services to Mothers and Children, MMBT Mother and Child Health (MCH) program is uniquely devised to utilize maximum potential of existing rural MCH staff consisting of women as midwives performing the following traditional functions:
- Family planning help and support
- Basic healthcare to pregnant women
- Delivery and
- Neonatal care and Post natal care
For the availability of basic health facilities especially for mothers and children, the project goal is to set up a round the clock emergency service in the center of excellence that includes:
- 24×7 ambulatory service
- Trained professionals and first responders
- Enhanced services at Out-Patient Department
- Capacity Buildings of the stakeholders with education, training and by making an enabling environment available through Mother and Child Healthcare training Centers that provide;
- Basic and comprehensive education and hands-on training programs; short courses, certificate trainings and diplomas in specialized programs including but not limited to:
- Paramedics
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Support Staff
- Laboratory Services
- Patient care and Services
- Technicians
- Personalized care
- Awareness workshops, seminars and programs
- Technical and Vocational Training
- Development of and support in Professional, Technical and Physical infrastructure
- Research and Development is one of the core functions of all MMBT programs. We believe in evidence based clinical practice and service delivery. Through research & Development, MMBT is committed to supporting an environment, facilitating delivery of quality health services to the users/community and attracting the best staff into the program.
- Advocacy and Activism play a pivotal role in getting any issue or problem recognized, increasing awareness and favorable legislation. Our Advocacy and Activism activities include the following:
- Dialogues amongst key stakeholders on pressing health issues
- Conference and informational seminars
- Networking of Lawmakers
- Close liaison with media
- Publication of analyses and reports
Methodology
Mian Muhammad Bukhsh Trust, along with its national and international collaborating partners, has been working to help build capacity through different programmatic interventions in different thematic areas related to Mother and Child healthcare. We intend to expand and intensify our work using the strategies, which we have been using overtime to implement the program successfully for the Mother and Child Health Center of Excellence. Center of Excellence has elaborate plans to implement its above explained 4 mandates in three phases.