Healing Hyderabad: How Helping Hand Foundation is bridging healthcare gaps for poor
Hyderabad: What happens when a group of tech-savvy IT professionals come together with a shared vision to help those who are in need of proper healthcare and education? You get the Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), an NGO dedicated to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for the city’s most vulnerable populations.
Founded in 2007 by Mujtaba Hasan Askari, who earlier worked at Infosys, HHF began as a modest effort to conduct medical camps and provide financial aid to critically ill patients. Initially, HHF focused on medical camps and financial assistance for critically ill patients. Over time, it started opening health centers and running schools to support the children of migrant laborers.
While the NGO had been active for years, it gained significant prominence in 2018 when it collaborated with Masjid-e-Ishaq in Nawab Sahab Kunta to establish a community health center. This center provides healthcare facilities to thousands of slum dwellers in the vicinity, regardless of their religion.
“One of my main jobs is to explain the situation to poor patients and transfer them from the clutches of private hospitals that overcharge, and bring them to government hospitals,” said Mujtaba Hasan Askari.
Today, the HHF operates 12 primary health centres in urban slums in Hyderabad which seek to provide healthcare facilities to an estimated population of eight to nine lakh who come from poor families and migrant labourers. These health centres cater to the medical needs of slum dwellers in Hakeempet, Khyamnagar, Rajendra Nagar, Hasan Nagar, Kalapathar, Achi Reddy Nagar, Ghouse Nagar, Toor Colony, Shaheen Nagar, Wadi-e-Saleheen, Wadi-e-Mustafa and Rajiv Gandhi Nagar.
The patients are not just treated at their PHCs, they are also referred to nearly 30 government hospitals, including Osmania General Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, NIMS, MNJ, Niloufer, Petlaburj Maternity, Chest Hospital and Koti ENT Hospital. The NGO has set up help desks under the programme ‘Praja Aarogya Mitra’ in these hospitals. The voluntary support staff forms a vital link between doctors and needy patients who come for treatment at these state-run hospitals.
Critical or ICU Care often is prohibitively expensive for families who are financially weak
Critical care emergencies to get free care in Govt Hospitals
Risk assessment, counseling family & creating a green corridor to shift cases in a timely manner has helped save lives & money pic.twitter.com/eZVK4uduh7— Helping Hand Foundation (@HelpingHandHyd) October 11, 2024
For the benefit of poor patients diagnosed with renal failure, the HHF in coordination with SEED USA, has set up a full-fledged haemodialysis unit at Masjid-e-Mohammadia, in Langar Houz area. The patients from weaker sections are provided free dialysis service.
With education and health as their priorities, the foundation has also started a free primary-cum-bridge school in Errakunta. The school caters to the first-generation learners from migrant labour families. The school has 14 classrooms and is being run by a dedicated team of 12 qualified teachers, a headmistress, counselors, and support staff.
Beyond their priority work, the Helping Hand Foundation has partnered with the head priest of Chilkur Balaji temple CS Rangarajan to promote interfaith dialogue in the city. Recently, Mujtaba Hasan Askari was appointed as Telangana State Head for the Healthcare Professionals Domain under the All-India Professionals Congress (AIPC).
