Although the country had been through a traumatic time in the year 2007-2008 and AURA faced it’s own share of grief and problems, with the Grace & Blessings of Allah, we managed to overcome them and kept going on with our Mission and the Goals that we had set for ourselves. Nonetheless, the year 2008-2009 had also been full of turmoil and tragedies, both on the National level as well as locally at AURA. We are Grateful to Allah for His MERCY & unlimited BOUNTIES of having given us the courage & Health to carry on with our plans for helping those who also have a right to better quality of life.

We are currently using 10 rooms on the first floor for rehabilitation purposes. Also the upstairs cafeteria is catering to the children on this floor. We are still facing problems with the elevator, because of electricity problems and a generator which is inadequate for our needs. Our present generator supplies only 32 KVA’s. The engineering group has recommended 72 KVA’s to solve the problem. When there is insufficient electricity on all three phases, we shift the upstairs children to the downstairs dining hall. In this event the “Snoezellen Room” and “Serenity room” do not get utilized.

On completion of first floor rooms are being used for extension of current on going Rehabilitation Services. Additional service’s such as Early intervention Clinic & consultation clinic etc may also be started in future. Currently we have a long waiting list for admissions, but due to lack of additional transport, all of them cannot be accommodated. However “short hours” program has been started for the severely impaired young children living in the surrounding areas of Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

The details of the Assessments made from August 08 to May 09, are as follows:

1. Admissions given::                            15
2. Waiting list:                                        30
3. Referred to other centers:                10
4. Waiting for early intervention:           09
5. Total Assessments:                          64

We are providing assessments outside Karachi such as Gwadar, Dadu, Thatta, and Hyderabad. Parents are educated in regards to positioning, handling, feeding, and nutrition. Also they are referred to an orthotist if there is a need. If required, they are recommended for special furniture/equipment to make for the home utility. CHILD SPONSORSHIP SCHEME has been operational for the last eight years. Initially the expense per child was calculated to be Rs 5000 per month, whereas the fees charged for the services, including Pick & Drop, were only Rs 2000. Ten percent of the total no. of children were paying this amount while the rest were either paying a very small amount or were totally free. The Sponsor adopting a child was asked to pay Rs 5000/month or Rs 60,000/annually. As the children grew in number, the expenses now calculated came to Rs 7000/month. The fees had to be raised for those who could afford it to Rs 3500/month and from the Sponsor Rs 7000/month or Rs84,000/annually.

Presently the Total number of children/adolescents enrolled are______ 92
Children paying 50% Subsidized fee at Rs.3500/mth___________________ 37
Children paying 30% of Subsidized fee at Rs 600/mth_________________  55 (on Average)
Children be fully SPONSORED (paying as token Rs 200/mth)______________ 06 (treated as free)
Children WAITING for Full Sponsorship ______________________________55
Children WAITING for Half Sponsorship______________________________ 37

Child Sponsorship fees helps to compenstate even for those who are subsidized. Before coming to the end of this report, let me reiterate the importance of looking for a permanent means of financial sustainability, so that this gigantic mission that we have taken upon ourselves, may be continued by the younger generation to come and the Ray of Hope, that has been shown to many disillusioned and disheartened parents of these Special Children, shall keep shining brightly. Amen.
 
Dr Ruby Anwar Abbasi TI
Medical Director