Operation USA staff, Nimmi Gowrinathan and Bita Amani (public health consultant) spent 8 days in early March, traveling in Pakistan, visiting areas affected by the October ’05 earthquake, and project sites. The visit covered Karachi, Islamabad, Abbatobad, Balakot, Muzaffarabad (Pakistan- Kashmir). After conducting an informal needs assessment and evaluating potential local partners, Operation USA, with the support of Honeywell Home Systems and Kaiser Permanente, has committed to 2 long-term development projects in the health field and is considering further partnerships in education and micro-finance.

PROJECT 1: OMEED CLINIC ($70,000)

Proposed Project: Dr. Tareen, has worked as a general surgeon for the last 30 years, and has designed a project to construct and staff one clinic, which focuses on evaluation and treatment of soft-tissue injuries, follow-up care and treatment for fractures and bone injuries, including mobilization of injured extremities and physical therapy.

Progress: Operation USA staff and Dr. Tareen met with the Health Minister for Jammu and Kashmir, who consented to the use of land located 15km outside of Muzaffarbad which is ideally suited to access the remote mountain villages. The site was previously a community center, which will be refurbished to create a 10-room clinic.

PROJECT 2: MURSHID REMOTE REHABILITATION CENTER ($100,000)

Proposed Project: Murshid Hospital & Health Care Centre (MHHCC) is a private, non-profit organization of Darut Tasnif Ltd, a registered charitable institution located at Hub River Road, Karachi, Pakistan.  It serves the deprived populations of the semi-rural areas of Sindh & Balochistan. Murshid has proposed the establishment of 4 remote rehabilitation centers, intended to work in conjunction with the Peshawar Prosthetics Institute, to offer rehabilitation services to the over 1200 recent amputees in the region. The program has already conducted a needs assessment, with surveys identifying the needs and location of amputees. The program has an element of vocational training, which provides long-term support for amputees.

Progress & Timetable:
Schedule of completion of Remote Rehab Centre - Murshid Hospital & Health Care Centre & Peshawar Institute of Prosthetics

Action	Cut-Off Date	Outflows RS March To May	Annual Expense Apr 06 to Mar 07
Selection of site	Mar 31	50,000
Project Supervision	Mar 31	100,000
Building & Services	Apr 01- May 31	2,450,000
Purchase of Capex items	Apr 15- May 31	3,250,000
Staffing	April- Mar 07		2,600,000
Operations	April- Mar 07		2,000,000
Materials	April- Mar 07		5,000,000
TOTAL	APR- MAR 07	5,850,000	9,600,000

PLANNED PROJECT: PROJECT HAVEN - Muzzafarrabad, Pakistan ($50,000)

Proposed Project: Project Haven is intended for the management and rehabilitation of physically disadvantaged children including those rendered homeless as a consequence of the earthquake. Project Haven proposes to build an orphanage, school facility for primary and secondary education, and vocational training center for these children to make them useful members of the community. The project also incorporates a medical facility with rehabilitation (fixed/mobile) to benefit children with routine health care delivery and offer some minor procedures as needed. Project Haven proposes to invite and host various disciplines of rehabilitation including physical (limb fitting), psychological, social and cultural, to work with the children in the home.