ABOUT US
St.Joseph's is a charitable Hospice whose aim is to provide free medical care and facilities to the
destitute, the sick, and the terminally ill, without regard to race or religion. The Hospice contains 60 beds for resident patients and provides an outpatient clinic, which treats approximately 100 patients daily. There is a nursery crowded with infants and toddlers, comprising the “St.Joseph family”. No one is turned away. A homely atmosphere pervades the wards, where those who are disabled in one way assist those who are disabled in another. Patients who can work are taught to do embroidery, knitting, tailoring and other handicrafts. Many of them do recover enough to return to their homes and are then able to earn a little pocket money from their newly acquired skills.
Franciscan Sisters of Mary from different countries around
St.Joseph's is a charitable Hospice whose aim is to provide free medical care and facilities to the
destitute, the sick, and the terminally ill, without regard to race or religion. The Hospice contains 60 beds for resident patients and provides an outpatient clinic, which treats approximately 100 patients daily. There is a nursery crowded with infants and toddlers, comprising the “St.Joseph family”. No one is turned away. A homely atmosphere pervades the wards, where those who are disabled in one way assist those who are disabled in another. Patients who can work are taught to do embroidery, knitting, tailoring and other handicrafts. Many of them do recover enough to return to their homes and are then able to earn a little pocket money from their newly acquired skills.Franciscan Sisters of Mary from different countries around
the globe - Argentina, Canada, Pakistan, Poland, and Spain - run the Hospice working there up to 30 years. The fully trained staff is composed of 50 Pakistani nurses, nurse’s aids, volunteer doctors, and ward helpers. Most of them are village boys and girls whom the nuns have trained and now employ. In Pakistan as in many other countries there is high unemployment, no compensation for injuries and insurance is prohibitive. Medical care can be very expensive. The hospitals can manage only acute cases. Chronic illnesses and disability requiring long term care are beyond the scope of the local hospitals.
Many patients at the Hospice have been injured permanently in the course of their work, womens
Many patients at the Hospice have been injured permanently in the course of their work, womens
clothing catching fire while coking results in severe burns, tuberculosis, meningitis, polio and typhoid fever leave their marks. Children with congenital deformities and malnutrition are often abandoned to the Hospice by their parents. Today the Hospice has 50-60 inpatients.
All medical services are free of charge to inpatients, regardless of cost or duration of treatment There are three wards - for men, women and children. The children get regular schooling - often the only chance they have to receive an education in their lives. Outpatients pay very little and the ratio of Muslim to Christian patients is about 50:50.
Since the early 80`s the Hospice has been treating Afghan refugees. The Hospice has a well functioning laboratory, provides physiotherapy treatment and has its own pharmacy.
Our last two cases:
1. a 30 year old woman who suffered an attack of meningitis a year ago was brought to the Hospice at the beginning of October 2002. She was malnourished and suffering from bed sores, after having been unsuccessfully treated in three clinics. They recommended she should go to St.Joseph`s Hospice for further treatment.
2. at about the same time a 17 year old girl came to the Hospice, after young boys burnt her with acid when she rejected their advances. She will need plastic surgery and prolonged treatment.
The treatment of our 48 paralyzed and paraplegic patients is highly personnel intensive: Paralyzed patients in order to prevent sores as well as to check those who are incontinent have to be turned every two hours.. All possible economies are made in the Hospice, i.e. using old newspapers for draw sheets for the patients to lie on and using donated medicines and bandages where appropriate.
A Board of Directors provides guidance on the financial and administrative management of the Hospice.
The Sponsor’s Committee holds two voting seats on the Board. The Sponsors` Committee is a locally active committee consisting of women, mostly members of the foreign community in Islamabad which over the years with the help of local donors and friends of the Hospice have organized many fundraising events, ranging from coffee mornings to balls, concerts, art exhibitions etc. Every year there was a hugely successful International Bazaar in December with up to 5000 participants. These days fundraising is almost impossible. After September 11 and the attacks on the International and Christian communities, there is a sense of fear. Large gatherings to raise funds are no longer possible. In recent years, the Sponsors' Committee has been able to raise almost 5.000,- USD per month, which matches almost the running costs.
Our aim now is to find long term donors and supporters, and grants from friends and institutions abroad and in Pakistan.
The Sponsors’ Committee is grateful to all the friends and supporters of St. Joseph’s Hospice for their continuing support, help and assistance.
