A Cry from the Mountains
Imagine a mother in a remote village of Neelum Valley, cradling her feverish child while the nearest hospital lies hours away across rugged terrain. The roads are broken, the distance unforgiving, and the silence is filled only with her whispered prayers.
Now imagine the same child receiving care within minutes, not because a hospital was built nearby, but because hope arrived on wheels.
This is not a dream. It is the vision behind the Mobile Hospital Unit Project by Kashmir Welfare Foundation, now supercharged through an inspiring partnership with GiveMatch, where every donation is doubled, and every act of kindness creates ripples across borders.
The Harsh Reality Behind the Beauty
Kashmir’s valleys are breathtaking, but beauty can be deceptive. Behind the snow-capped peaks and rivers lies a healthcare crisis that has silently taken thousands of lives.
According to the AJ&K Bureau of Statistics (2024), one doctor serves nearly 3,886 people, and over 1,500 people share a single hospital bed. In a region of 4.46 million residents spread across 10 mountainous districts, access to medical facilities is scarce.
The data paints a stark picture:
- Only 7 District Headquarters Hospitals and 14 Tehsil Hospitals serve the entire region.
- There are just 1,148 doctors for the whole population.
- Maternal mortality stands at 104 per 100,000 live births.
- Infant mortality is as high as 51 per 1,000 births.
- Respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and hypertension remain among the leading causes of death.
In places like Neelum and Haveli, the journey to a doctor can mean walking several kilometres through steep mountain passes. For many, help simply comes too late.
When Illness Meets Isolation
Abdul Basit, one of our trustees, recalls a visit to a remote village in 2023:
“We met a young mother who had lost her newborn because she couldn’t reach a hospital in time. Her story isn’t unique — it’s repeated in every valley. That’s when we knew we had to act differently.”
Out of this painful reality was born the idea of a Lifeline on Wheels — a mobile hospital that could travel where no permanent facility exists.
The concept is simple yet revolutionary: bring qualified doctors, nurses, and medical equipment directly to people’s doorsteps. From emergency care to maternal health, from vaccinations to chronic disease treatment, the Mobile Hospital Unit will bridge the gap between despair and hope.
Introducing the GiveMatch Partnership
GiveMatch is a UK-based platform that transforms ordinary giving into extraordinary impact. When you donate or start a fundraiser for Kashmir Welfare Foundation on GiveMatch, your generosity is matched — literally.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Start Your Fundraiser
Visit GiveMatch, click Create Fundraiser, select Kashmir Welfare Foundation, and generate your personal link.
Step 2: Share and Inspire
When two friends donate through your link, GiveMatch matches your donation, doubling its value.
Step 3: See the Ripple of Mercy
Every matched donation inspires another, multiplying impact and turning generosity into a movement.
Imagine — your £50 donation instantly becomes £100, bringing medicine, oxygen, and emergency treatment to families who would otherwise go without care.
Why Kashmir Needs a Mobile Hospital
The AJK At a Glance 2024 report revealed staggering gaps in healthcare access. While 75% of children receive immunisations, remote districts still face maternal and infant deaths due to delayed treatment.
Every year, over 1,300 newborns and 900 infants die from preventable causes. Pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malnutrition are rampant. Yet, there are only 46 Rural Health Centres and 233 Basic Health Units, many understaffed or unreachable during harsh winters.
The Mobile Hospital Unit is designed to change this — equipped with:
- Full diagnostic facilities (ECG, ultrasound, blood testing)
- Onboard pharmacy providing essential medicines
- Emergency stabilisation area with oxygen and life-support tools
- Separate maternal and child health section
- Doctors, nurses, and paramedics trained to handle emergencies
These units will rotate between the most underserved regions: Neelum, Haveli, Bagh, Sudhnoti, and remote parts of Kotli.
A Story of Hope – The Day Help Arrived
Last winter, in a snow-covered hamlet outside Muzaffarabad, an elderly man named Ghulam lay struggling to breathe. His daughter trekked for hours to reach the nearest health post, only to find it closed.
When our pilot medical team arrived two days later through the Mobile Health Outreach, they stabilised him within minutes using portable oxygen and medication. His words still echo in our hearts:
“I thought my life would end before morning. Then you arrived — like angels in a van.”
That van was the prototype of our upcoming Mobile Hospital Unit. It proved that mobile care isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.
Faith in Action
In Islam, saving one life is as if you have saved all of humanity (Qur’an 5:32). The Mobile Hospital Unit Project embodies that teaching. It transforms Zakat and Sadaqah into practical, life-saving action.
When you give, you are not only treating illness — you are answering a moral and spiritual call. You become part of a mercy that travels from the UK to the mountains of Kashmir, turning your wealth into healing.
Start your fundraiser today and bring healthcare to Kashmir’s forgotten communities.
Impact Box: The Numbers That Inspire Hope
| Indicator | Current Situation (AJK 2024) | Our Goal (Through the Mobile Hospital Unit) |
|---|---|---|
| Population per Doctor | 3,886 people per doctor | 1,500 per medical professional (via mobile coverage) |
| Hospital Beds | 1 bed for every 1,512 people | Additional 1,000 treatment slots monthly |
| Maternal Deaths (2023) | 61 reported | Zero preventable maternal deaths |
| Neonatal Deaths (2023) | 1,306 reported | 50% reduction in neonatal deaths |
| Areas Covered | 10 Districts of AJK | Targeting 5 most underserved initially |
Beyond Medicine – Restoring Dignity
The Mobile Hospital Unit is more than a vehicle; it’s a promise of dignity. It restores the basic right to healthcare for those long forgotten.
In the words of Parveen Kausar, Trustee of Kashmir Welfare Foundation:
“Healthcare shouldn’t be a privilege determined by geography. Our mission is to ensure that even in the most remote corner of Kashmir, every person has access to a doctor.”
Through your donations, we can make that a reality.
How GiveMatch Makes Your Gift Go Further
The GiveMatch system is powered by ethical investment partners, philanthropic institutions, and tech-for-good networks. Every pound donated through the platform is matched by these partners — meaning your £100 becomes £200, and your impact doubles instantly.
It’s charity that inspires more charity. Each fundraiser sparks others, building a movement of generosity that echoes across borders and generations.
UK Gift Aid Reminder
If you’re a UK taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid box when donating. It increases your donation by 25% at no extra cost, allowing Kashmir Welfare Foundation to reach even more families in need.
Why Give Now?
Tonight, hundreds of children across Neelum and Haveli will sleep in pain, their parents unable to afford a doctor or reach a clinic. Your donation could be the one that sends a mobile hospital to their village tomorrow.
Don’t wait for change — drive it.
Every donation to the Mobile Hospital Unit Project is used transparently:
- 70% funds direct healthcare delivery (equipment, medicines, fuel).
- 20% supports medical staff and training.
- 10% maintains the vehicle and logistics.
Your Zakat and Sadaqah go directly toward saving lives. Kashmir Welfare Foundation ensures accountability through regular field reports, photos, and verified impact updates.
From Pain to Renewal
When we look at Kashmir today, we see two realities — one of suffering, and one of hope. The first belongs to those still waiting for care. The second belongs to people like you, who decide to act.
With your help, we can ensure that no mother loses her child to distance, no father dies of a treatable illness, and no village feels forgotten again.
🚑 Be the reason someone survives tonight.
Join the GiveMatch campaign and double your impact. Together, we can bring a lifeline of mercy to every valley of Kashmir.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mobile Hospital Unit Project?
It’s a fully equipped vehicle providing emergency medical care, maternal services, and diagnostics across remote parts of Azad Kashmir.
How does GiveMatch work?
When two people donate via your GiveMatch link, your original donation is matched — doubling your impact at no extra cost.
Where will the Mobile Hospital operate first?
The first phase targets remote districts including Neelum, Haveli, Bagh, and rural Kotli, reaching areas with no nearby hospital access.
Can I donate my Zakat or Sadaqah to this project?
Yes. The Mobile Hospital Unit Project is fully Zakat-eligible, ensuring your charity directly helps the needy and ill.
How can I make my donation go further?
Tick the Gift Aid box if you’re a UK taxpayer — it adds 25% more to your donation without costing you a penny.
