When Hope Begins with Healing
From London to Leeds, every act of kindness from the UK echoes through the valleys of Kashmir. Your compassion doesn’t just travel miles; it climbs mountains, crosses rivers, and reaches the very hearts of families who would otherwise face illness alone.
In a quiet village in Neelum Valley, seven-year-old Hakim Abdullah had stopped smiling. What began as a simple rash spread rapidly across his body, leaving him weak, isolated, and unable to attend school. His mother watched helplessly as their local shop’s meagre earnings were spent on ineffective ointments. The nearest hospital was four hours away — and unreachable during the winter months when the roads were buried under snow.
For families like Hakim’s, sickness doesn’t just steal health; it steals hope.
The Hidden Crisis in Kashmir’s Mountains
While tourists marvel at Kashmir’s beauty, an unseen health emergency continues to unfold. According to the latest AJ&K Bureau of Statistics (2024) report, over 6 million residents of Azad Kashmir live more than an hour away from suitable medical facilities, with at least 1 million facing journeys exceeding four hours.
There are only 1,148 doctors serving 4.46 million residents — roughly one doctor for every 4,900 people. In many rural communities, that number stretches even further. The region’s infant mortality rate stands at 58 per 1,000 births, a heartbreaking reminder of lives lost to preventable causes.
For women, the challenge is even greater. Cultural barriers and the absence of female doctors mean that many mothers endure complications in silence, often delivering babies at home without trained assistance.
Impact at a Glance (2024)
- 4,000 patients treated through Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Medical Camps
- 1 doctor per 4,900 residents across Azad Kashmir
- 6 million residents live more than an hour from healthcare
- 58 infant deaths per 1,000 births
- Mobile Hospital Unit launching in 2025
A Lifeline Born from Compassion
“The healthcare situation in remote areas of Azad Kashmir has reached critical levels,” says Abdul Basit, Trustee at Kashmir Welfare Foundation. “Our medical camps are often the only healthcare access point for thousands of families who would otherwise go without essential treatment.”
Since 2024, Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Medical Camps Project has treated over 4,000 patients — men, women, and children suffering from malaria, diabetes, infections, and chronic diseases. Each camp operates with a team of two doctors, four nurses, and a group of trained volunteers.
But behind every statistic lies a human story.
When Hakim’s case reached the Foundation, the medical team not only treated his skin infection but also arranged transportation and covered all treatment costs at a specialist hospital four hours away. Within weeks, Hakim was back in school, his laughter echoing through the valley once again.
The Mobile Hospital Unit – A Lifeline on Wheels
For decades, geography has been the biggest enemy of health in Kashmir. Heavy snowfall isolates entire valleys for half the year. Landslides cut off villages overnight. For some, reaching a hospital means crossing rivers on makeshift bridges or walking for hours with a sick child in their arms.
That’s why the Mobile Hospital Unit is so important.
This new initiative by Kashmir Welfare Foundation will bring advanced healthcare directly to those who need it most. The vehicle will be fully equipped with ultrasound and X-ray machines, an on-board pharmacy, and dedicated space for diagnosis and minor procedures.
More than just a van, it will be a lifeline on wheels, capable of reaching communities where medical access has been impossible for generations.
“We’re Witnessing Lives Transformed”
“We’re witnessing transformed lives,” says Dr Mauzam Ali, a volunteer physician who has served with the Foundation since 2023. “Children are returning to school. Adults are regaining their ability to work and support their families. That’s the power of accessible healthcare.”
The Mobile Hospital Unit will first serve Neelum Valley and Jhelum Valley (Leepa Valley) — two of the most isolated regions in Azad Kashmir. Both areas are known for breathtaking scenery but also extreme terrain and limited infrastructure.
To ensure sustainable care, Kashmir Welfare Foundation is creating a volunteer health network, training local youth to assist with patient registration, first aid, and awareness sessions. These volunteers act as vital bridges between the Foundation’s medical teams and their own communities.
Sponsor the Mobile Health Unit, urgently needed In Kashmir
Give Sadaqah – Make a World Of Difference to someone in need today
Regular Giving – Your ongoing support helps the poor
Every journey begins with a single act of kindness.
Help us bring healthcare to those who have none.
Join the mission to equip and deploy the Mobile Hospital Unit – a lifeline that could save thousands.
How UK Donors Make Every Pound Count
Your donations are already saving lives across Azad Kashmir. At Kashmir Welfare Foundation, we operate under a 100% donation policy. That means every penny you give goes directly towards medical services and patient care.
Operational costs are covered separately through business sponsorships and Gift Aid contributions.
UK Gift Aid Reminder
If you’re a UK taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid box when donating. It increases your contribution by 25% at no extra cost, helping us reach more patients, deliver more medicines, and extend the mercy of your giving even further.
Example:
- £40 donation = £50 with Gift Aid
- £100 donation = £125 with Gift Aid
Your generosity doesn’t just treat illness; it restores dignity.
The Human Impact – Beyond Numbers
In the words of Abdul Basit, “When we heal one person, we uplift an entire family.”
That’s exactly what happened with Shazia Begum, a widow from Leepa Valley who developed a severe infection after childbirth. With no hospital nearby, her condition worsened rapidly. A local volunteer contacted Kashmir Welfare Foundation, and within hours, our medical camp team arrived with essential medication. Today, Shazia is healthy and caring for her newborn — a living symbol of why our work matters.
Health, after all, is more than survival. It’s the foundation for education, income, and dignity. When people regain their strength, they regain their future.
Why Give Now
Right now, over 6 million people in Azad Kashmir are waiting for access to the most basic healthcare.
Tonight, a child may fall ill in a mountain village miles from the nearest doctor. Your support could change that.
Every contribution — big or small — helps equip our Mobile Hospital Unit, stock essential medicines, and send doctors into the most unreachable valleys.
Building the Future of Healthcare in Kashmir
Our long-term vision is not just to treat illnesses but to build a resilient healthcare system. By 2026, we aim to:
- Double our Medical Camp capacity across all ten districts of AJ&K
- Fully deploy the Mobile Hospital Unit with diagnostic equipment
- Train 200 local volunteers and 50 health promoters
- Increase outreach to women through female doctors and health educators
Kashmir’s health crisis cannot be solved overnight, but step by step, with faith and compassion, we can create lasting change
You can be the reason someone lives to see tomorrow.
Support the Mobile Hospital Unit today and help Kashmir Welfare Foundation bring healthcare to the forgotten valleys of Azad Kashmir.
Sponsor the Mobile Health Unit, urgently needed In Kashmir
Give Sadaqah – Make a World Of Difference to someone in need today
Regular Giving – Your ongoing support helps the poor
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Kashmir Welfare Foundation’s Mobile Hospital Unit?
It’s a fully equipped medical vehicle with diagnostic tools and medicines designed to reach remote communities in Azad Kashmir where no hospitals exist.
2. How are donations used?
We operate a 100% donation policy, ensuring all public donations directly fund patient treatment, medicines, and outreach medical camps.
3. Can I donate from the UK and add Gift Aid?
Yes. UK taxpayers can increase their donation by 25% at no extra cost by ticking the Gift Aid box when donating online.
4. How many people benefit from the Medical Camps each year?
In 2024, more than 4,000 patients received free medical treatment, with thousands more reached through health awareness sessions.
5. Why is healthcare access so limited in Kashmir?
Mountainous terrain, extreme weather, and a shortage of medical infrastructure mean many villages are cut off from hospitals for months each year. The Mobile Hospital Unit aims to bridge this gap.
Sponsor the Mobile Health Unit, urgently needed In Kashmir
💷 Gift Aid adds 25% extra at no cost to you.
