In 2002, while I was working as a teacher at the Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled on Ferozepur Road in Lahore, I became acutely aware of a significant gap in our system for children with special needs. Many of the children who came to us were already 8, 9, or even 11 years old—far beyond the critical age for early interventions such as speech therapy, physiotherapy, or support for learning difficulties. By the time they reached us, the opportunity for timely intervention had often passed, making it much harder to achieve meaningful progress.
During that time, I frequently hosted medical professionals who visited the institution. I would share my concerns with them, emphasizing the urgent need for a structured system that could provide early identification and guidance for children with special needs. I envisioned a process where every medical professional—whether a doctor, nurse, or paramedic—could guide parents of special needs children toward relevant resources, rather than simply prescribing medication. My idea was to create leaflets or booklets containing information about schools and services tailored to the needs of these children, based on their locality.
Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I had to leave for England at the end of 2002, and this initiative remained incomplete. When I returned to Pakistan and founded Eilya Care Foundation in Faisalabad in 2015, this vision became part of my mission. I worked tirelessly to collect data from local schools and institutions, advocating for the need for accessible information for parents of children with special needs. Despite multiple attempts, a lack of funding and institutional support prevented the project from taking off.
Alhamdulillah, in 2024, the vision finally turned into reality. With the support of two remarkable interns—Hafsa, the daughter of a doctor, and another intern whose father worked at DHQ—I presented a proposal to the Medical Superintendent (MS) and Assistant MS of a Faisalabad hospital. They appreciated the idea, granted permission, and provided space for what became the Eilya Help Desk for Parents and Families of Children with Special Needs, officially launched on August 18, 2024.
The objective of the Eilya Help Desk is to provide parents of children with special needs with timely and accurate information about resources available in their localities. This includes guiding families on nearby schools, therapy centres, and support services that cater specifically to their children’s needs. The help desk aims to bridge the gap between families and the institutions that can help improve their child’s quality of life.
At the help desk, we engage with parents who come for medical board assessments to obtain disability certificates for their children. Many of these families, particularly from rural areas such as Toba Tek Singh, are unaware of the resources available to them. For instance, if a child is brought for assessment, the help desk ensures that parents know about schools or centres in their area where their child’s needs can be addressed.
I also collaborated with Ms. Khalida Parveen, Director of Special Education, who supported the initiative and provided valuable insights. Over the past nine weeks, the help desk has provided guidance to an average of 25–30 families weekly. While this is a significant achievement, the need for expansion is immense.
The vision is to see this model replicated across Pakistan. Every child specialist, maternity hospital, government facility, and private clinic should have similar resources readily available. Lady Health Visitors (LHVs), who work in rural areas and are often the first point of contact for childbirths, must also be equipped with these informational tools.
This initiative is not just the responsibility of Eilya Care Foundation—it requires a collective effort from all stakeholders. By providing parents with the right information at the right time, we can address or even mitigate many disabilities through early intervention.
The Eilya Help Desk at DHA Hospital is a testament to what can be achieved when dedication meets collaboration. Our goal is to ensure that no family faces the uncertainty of not knowing where to turn. This is just the beginning, and I am confident that with the support of all stakeholders, we can expand this initiative to ensure that every child in Pakistan has the opportunity to thrive.
