Depilex Smileagain needs your help - Raising Hope for Smiles

Kanwal Qayuum, Sameena Naz, Saba Naz are the three girls selected this year by the Italian Doctors for further surgeries in Italy. These three girls were the victims of brutal acid attacks and have already gone through multiple surgeries and clinical treatments. Depilex Smileagain has not just helped them with their treatments and surgeries but also with the psychological treatments they received to heal the agonizing pain and suffering they went through as a result of these attacks. 

This year during the visits of doctors from Italy, these girls were selected for final reconstructive surgeries that will hopefully bring smiles back to their faces and bring back the life they always dreamed of living. Depilex Smileagain is calling out for your help in bearing the expenses of their visit and stay in Italy. Let’s all hope and pray that these will be the last treatments they go through to get what always belonged to them. THEIR SMILES. To donate online you can use this link or go to our website

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

http://fnd.us/c/9P039

Hazrat Khadija Tul Kubra (RA) Award for Masarrat Misbah of Depilex Smileagain

“I have got many awards but receiving the Hazrat Khadija tul Kubra Award is a real honor for me. An award with the title of a woman who was the wife of our Prophet (PBUH), whose courage, righteousness, and perfection in all relationships made her a role model for all women, and a successful business woman. This is the best way to be recognized for the humanitarian work that I have chosen to do since 2003.”

These were the words of gratitude by Masarrat Misbah who was honored by the Hazrat Khadija Tul Kubra Award in a ceremony held in Avari Hotel Lahore on 6th November 2012.

The event was organized by Pakistan Federation of Business & Professional Women (BPWO). Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, advisor to Chief Minister Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. Nasreen Mahdi from BPWO in her citation acknowledged the efforts of Masarrat Misbah for her humanitarian services rendered through Depilex Smileagain Foundation.

She invited the attention of the chief guest and the audience to the heinous crime of acid throwing on women and urged the government to give maximum punishment to the culprits. Begum Zakia Shahnawaz while handing over the award to Masarrat Misbah commended her contribution as an entrepreneur, a social worker and a humanitarian.

Masarrat Misbah got standing ovation by the audience when she was receiving the award.

 

 

Depilex Smileagain Team Attends Hijab Conference in Pearl Continental Lahore

International Hijab Conference was held at Pearl Continental Lahore on 15th September, 2012. Masarrat Misbah attended the event along with her Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) team of acid victims. It was an inspiring event that emphasized on the importance of hijab in an Islamic society by raising awareness, building a positive image of hijab and addressing the negative misconceptions on the Muslim headdress.

Mrs. Raja Ashraf (wife of PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf) appeared as chief guest and presented “Special hijab award” to Masarrat Misbah, President Depilex Smileagain foundation, not only for medical and vocational support of the acid victims but also grooming them to be ideal women with religious and cultural values .

Acid Survivor Arooj Akbar’s Wedding – Sharing Smiles at Depilex SmileAgain

A really happy time was celebrated at Depilex Smileagain Foundation when an old patient Arooj Akbar(acid victim)  tied her wedding knot. The entire DSF(Depilex Smileagain Foundation) team gave her a memorable farewell.  Musarrat Misbah gave her a stunning look on her special day. It was an epic eve encompassed by good wishes and amusement. All her Depilex friends were very happy and organized this event with a great zeal. They all bought presents for her and wished her a peaceful life ever after.

We wish her a very happy successful life.

Arooj Akbar’s Wedding in Depilex Smileagain Foundation

 

Depilex Smileagain and Stories of Extraordinary Hope

The way things were happening for last few years it was not surprising that violence on such scale took place . Just for taking revenge, one destroys another’s life. We can’t even imagine what goes through that person’s mind, who suffers from different sort of violence. It has become a common practice in Pakistan, that if a girl or a lady refuses for something or defends her for some reason they are burned by throwing acid.

Many innocent girls lost their lives, a few survive with all their dreams shattered; giving up all their hope to live a prosperous life many NGO’s are working on the rehabilitation of such women. Providing them new lives full of hope so they don’t spend their lives in fear. And here we are with few survivors who want to rise like the phoenix.

 

Depilex Smileagain registers Mayo Hospital Lahore Acid Attack Victims

Ms. Rehmana, a nurse at Mayo Hospital was subjected to acid attack by her husband while she was at duty in Mayo Hospital Lahore. Her colleague, Ms. Shazia, who was also a nurse and was sitting next to Rehmana was also burnt badly.  The culprit was beaten by the locals / public inthe hospital and is in jail.

DSF team visited the burn victims and both patients are registered with Depilex Smileagain Foundation.

  

Shazia Burnt Victim

A nurse at Mayo Hospital. She was on duty with Rehmana and was sitting next to her when acid thrown.

Depilex Smileagain team visits Bund Road Lahore Fire Incident Burn Victims

A really sad incident took place on bund road Lahore on sept 11, 2012 when a shoe factory named as “soft care” blew up with fire. Rescue 1122 immediately reached for help and took the people inside to the hospital. There were total 34 people inside the building at the time of incident. 32 passed away before reaching the hospital and only 2 survived which were immediately admitted.

Depilex smile again foundation reached hospital to help the burnt victims but unfortunately discovered only 2 survivors.  Yasir, s/o Abdul razzaq was injured badly. He got critical burns on his legs, thighs and has scars all over his face. DSF has registered yasir as their patient.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Waqar, factory worker was not burnt but was terrified and fainted due to heavy smoke of the fire. He was kept in the hospital for a day and today he is discharged.

Depilex Smileagain foundation and its financial auditing and reporting

Financial auditing is a very important obligation of any NGO. Not only the lives of people who the NGOs claim to be serving is at stake, but the confidence of the donators in the integrity of the NGO to which they contribute is also to be retained. Hence the best of auditors take responsibility of the task – for Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) this task is undertaken by Mohsin Mansha of Mansha Mohsin Dossani Khan & Co (MMDK).

MMDK is licensed by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW). This License is hard to earn and even more difficult to maintain. Embezzlement and Misappropriation of any kind may mean the cancellation of their license, a risk no company would ever like to take.

It has been noticed that some rumors are being spread about Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF). Nowadays people don’t act wisely once a rumor is heard about any organization and they immediately start believing irrational accusations. What’s important to know is that rumors are only created to degrade the organizations and eventually affect none but the people which the NGOs are trying to help.

Instead of cultivating doubts and cutting off the rights of the much deserving Acid Attack and Burn Victims one should take out few minutes of their luxurious lives and visit Organizations to know about the authenticity of the rumors which we usually start believing in seconds. People have dedicated their lives, wealth and time for a cause. The people who they help are dependent on the support and aid which are given to them by the donators, for them this is the only source of life, hope and happiness. Please consider that before agreeing to any false information - there are lives at stake.

WHY DO PEOPLE BLAME NGOs AND CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS?

Ngo is a registered non profitable, nongovernmental organization which is committed to help the undeserved through strategic interventions in health, education and skills learning.

We, humans, are meant to help each other. Helping the mankind and bringing relief to their sufferings is the only way we to make our earth encompassed by peace. With the same intention many organizations are working in Pakistan to promote peace for example Bardasht (founded by NILOFER BAKHTIYAR), Shaukat khanam cancer hospital (founded by IMRAN KHAN), depilex smile again foundation (founded by musarrat misbah) etc.

Blame Games Being Played Against Charity Foundations

These organizations are not being run by their founders only. Founders have only taken a step. It’s the people like you and me who are responsible for the success of such NGOs and hence helping the suffering mankind.

NGOs are not meant to earn, they are meant to serve. They run on the top of the financial aids, donations and sponsorships. These donations are the only assets they have to promote peace by helping under privileged sufferers.

It has been noticed that many NGOs are now being blamed for using funds and donations for their personal matters instead of spending it on the sufferers. People, without realizing the truth, believe on the word of mouth and stop donating for the sufferers being helped by that NGO.

It is done to harm the founder. Some people who have their personal clashes with the founder or the organization start spreading such rumors in order to put it to loss. It leaves a really bad effect not on the founder but the sufferers who were being treated. Poeple who blame NGOs should not do it just because of their personal clashes with the founder. This rumor does more harm to the sufferers than the founder or organization’s reputation.

Depilex Smileagain Foundation and its cause of restoring the smiles of acid and kerosene burn victims

People who stop giving donations to NGOs considering them fraudulent should think wise and positive. It does not matter that where your donations are being used. The thing that really matters is that the purpose of your donations is being fulfilled or not. After all it’s GOD who will reward you for your good deeds and intentions, not the people.

Patients being treated in Depilex Smileagain

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - To Whom it may Concern

God created human beings for each other, he gave some power so that they could help others with none, he bestowed health upon some so that they can help those with poor health, to some he blessed with every blessing that there is so that they could share it with those who were not that lucky.

Being a human we have a responsibility towards every human who is deprived, doing is what makes us human.

People who took away the smiles from the faces of the victims of set-on-fire and Acid Attacks are another breed, but what have we done to answer the calls of these distressed souls?

We at Depilex Smileagain Foundation are committed towards bringing back their smiles and doing everything we can to give them their life back. You can either choose to ignore us or help us, decide how good a human you want to be, HURRY

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - Profile of a Volunteer at Depilex SmileAgain Foundation

 

My name is Amrit Ahmed. I have just finished my O’level studies. I always wanted to do something that made myself and others happy. I had my three months summer vacations so therefore, I looked at it as an opportunity to accomplish my goal and started to look for a way to keep myself happy whilst doing some social work.
One day I was just randomly searching on internet about some of the foundations working for orphans, women rights e.t.c. As my search engine continued I suddenly came across Smileagain foundation. Smileagain works for the acid and kerosene burn victims and is run by Mussarat Misbah. While I was reading the web page I came across the objective of this foundation.
Immediately on 16 of June I decided to meet Mussarat Misbah. Mussarat Misbah after seeing my passion and considering my enthusiasm immediately offered me to work with her foundation as a volunteer. It was that very day when I met Mamoona an acid victim. Due to my friendly nature Maimoona immediately became my really good friend. When I told her that I am going to voluntarily work with Smileagain she hugged me and gave me a big smile and said that she is really happy to see someone working for them too. She got really excited when she came to know that I am going to visit her daily while she is in hospital and will bring her lunch too.
The smile that I saw on Mamoona’s face made me proud of myself that I am doing something productive. From that day onwards I decided that I would always be a friend of this foundation. Every day I meet many burn victims who come to this foundation with a new hope, trust and expect to enjoy a new life.
I feel really proud working here because the atmosphere provided by Mussarat Misbah is really cherishing. It feels like as if I belong here. Hence, I will recommend my all dear friends who are sitting idle in their homes  in front of computer or just hanging around achieving nothing, should not waste their time and come to Smileagain and work with them because smiles are meant to be shared and we should make sure that we share a smile too.


Amrit Ahmed

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - BEING HUMAN

The feeling of self-satisfaction that comes when one sees joy in the eyes of one whose hunger has been appeased, whose pain has been lessened and whose life has been recovered is indeed heavenly.

The service rendered by an individual or an institution to improve the social conditions of society is called ‘social service’. This service is rendered on humanitarian considerations and without any motive of profit. Only those people to whom the interests of society are more important than their personal interests come forward to render social service. Today there is an appropriate definition to it as a trait found in some people, whereas it should have been a universal character trait of any Human Being.

If one seeks to help, several ways come to mind as there are many worthy people who deserve help from the more fortunate ones. Acid Attacks and Burn victims are amongst the list of people who need all sort of help from anyone who is willing to invest time, money or hard work.

Poor souls which are victim of Set-on-fire and Acid attacks suffer from many problems which are physical, psychological and social. They require a lot of treatments at various levels along with Psychological and Psychiatric assistance to facilitate social reintegration of the survivors.

You know how stress super-charges you, causing stomach distress, aches and pains, or sending your heart rate soaring. In the same way, social support has a complex effect on well-being—but it is calming and positive. Social support may change your assessment of the stressful event or may prevent you from engaging in damaging behavioral or physiological responses.

Volunteering in organizations which work for a humanitarian causes is the best form of charity one can give as a human. It is sad to see how many able people do not give heed to such services; they do not realize how important it is for them to be of service to humanity to be able to classify themselves as being HUMAN.

Source: Nine Mark Communications

http://www.depilexsmileagain.com

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - Burn and Acid Attack victims – Pains are more than skin deep

Burn injuries are devastating, sudden and unpredictable forms of trauma which affect the victim both physically and psychologically[1]. The bio psychosocial impact on individual hospitalized for severe burn wounds begins at the moment of injury and extends through out the person’s life[2] In last decades, the increase in survival rate following burn injury has prompted an increased focus on problems of rehabilitation, psychosocial adjustment and psychosocial concomitants[3].

The psychological aspects of burn injury have been researched in different parts of world producing different outcomes[4]. Psychological impairment has found to be present in 45.5% and 40% at baseline and follow up assessments respectively. The extent of burn has been found to be associated with psychological impairment.

The prevalence of mild to moderate symptoms of Depression are present in 23% to 26%[5] while major depression in 4% to 10%[6]. Lower levels of Anxiety are present in 67.14% whereas moderate to severe Anxiety is reported by 24.29% and 8.57% of patients respectively.

A major component of suffering from burn injury is severe pain[7]. It has been recognized that Anxiety can worsen the acute pain. Moreover, both Depression and Anxiety are strong prospective predictors of greater pain, more fatigue and physical dysfunction[8].

Anxiety is common in burn patients; therefore, this problem should be addressed right from start of treatment since acute anxiety can aggravate the severe pain.  Patients who are depressed require therapy which should be started in hospital and be continued till discharge and full rehabilitation. Flame was most common cause of burn injury.

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[1]Loncar Z, Bras M, Mickovic V. The relationships between burn

pain, anxiety and depression. Coll Antropol

[2] Menzies V. Depression and burn wounds. Arch  Psychiatr Nurs

[3] Madianos MG, Papaghelis M, Ioannovich J, Dafni R. Psychiatric

Disorders in Burn Patients: A Follow-Up Study. Psychother

Psychosom

[4] Tedstone JE,  Tarrier N.  An investigation of the prevalence of

psychological morbidity in burn-injured patients. Burns

[5] Thomas BD, Bresnick GM, Magyar-Russell G, Lawrence JW,

McCann UD, Fauerbach JA. Symptoms of depression predict

change in physical health after burn injury. Burns

[6] Tsirigotou S. Acute and Chronic Pain resulting From Burn

Injuries. Ann Mediterr Burns Club

[7] Edwards RR, Smith MT, Klick B, Magyar-Russell G,

Hythornthwaite JA, Holavanhalli R, et al. Symptoms of depression

and anxiety as unique predictors of pain related out comes

following burn injury

Depilex Smileagain Foundation - Rising Atrocities – Acid Attack and Set-on-fire cases on the rise

Gender based domestic violence is one of the harsh realities in the third world. Every day the media reports cases of atrocities that are faced by helpless victims. Few of these are ever brought to justice due to communal pressures and loop holes in the legal system. Acid and kerosene oil burning is a gender specific crime. Young girls and women are the common victims of this crime. Although the mortality rate is low the survival is considered by victims to be a fate worse than death. The crime has long term repercussions comprising physical disfiguration and often immobility and psychological complications.

According to an independent survey carried out by Depilex Smileagain Foundation (DSF) there were 242 cases of burnt victims in Pakistan in 2011. 153 of these cases were a result of intentional violence whereas 89 were accidental cases. The number of victims of Acid Attacks and Set-on-Fire has increased by 31% and 47% respectively since 2010, which is very alarming in these modern times where there are tens of NGOs looking after Human and Women Rights.

These numbers are bound to be more than mentioned because only a few have the courage to report such issues and most cases go unreported. Over 450 victims have been registered in DSF, an NGO which has been working on this issue since years. Thank God such Foundations exist because the legal system and the Government has not done much to reduce such cases of dreadful violence let alone helping the victims.